Newspoll: Coalition’s lead lost in Labor’s surge

MALCOLM Turnbull has brushed off disastrous poll results showing the Coalition has lost its lead to Labor - preferring instead to snap selfies with fans.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull poses for a 'selfie' at Barangaroo in Sydney, Tuesday, April 5, 2016. The Prime Minister and Senator Cash were talking to the media about the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) the Prime Minister would not be drawn on the latest polls. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins) NO ARCHIVING

MALCOLM Turnbull has brushed off disastrous poll results showing the Coalition has lost its lead to Labor - preferring instead to focus on a latte at an inner-city cafe and selfies with punters.

The latest NewsPoll result, published on Tuesday morning, showed the Opposition leads the Coalition 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

The Prime Minister’s personal approval rating has also taken a dive, with just 48 per cent of voters now having him as their “better PM”, compared to 52 per cent last poll.

The PM stopped to pose for several selfie shots with fans at Barangaroo today. Picture: AAP

Apparently unconcerned about the latest numbers, Mr Turnbull was all smiles when greeted by fans. He declined to be drawn on the latest poll figures. Picture: AAP

Opposition leader Bill Shorten standing has increased six points to 27 per cent, leading to claims from former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett that it was a wake up call for Mr Turnbull.

The PM stopped for a coffee and a number of selfies with workers outside a cafe at Sydneys Barangaroo development on Tuesday morning before fronting journalists and refusing to comment on the awful poll result.

“I’ll leave the commentary on matters like that to the commentators,” he said.

Asked if Coalition MPs and ministers were entitled to be angry at the PM for the mess of the last week, including a botched plan on tax reform with the states, Mr Turnbull replied: “Thankyou for inviting me to be a commentator.

“It’s a line of work I used to do in my youth but I’m not doing it any longer.

“We’re here to talk about the construction industry, we’re here to talk about economic growth, we’re here to talk about the key element of our economic plan to ensure that we can continue to successfully transition from a mining, construction-fuelled economy to one that is more diverse.”

Mr Turnbull and Senator Michaelia Cash toured the Barangaroo site today, but avoided questions on the latest poll.

Mr Turnbull regularly commented on poll results in the run up to previous elections but appeared to have changed his policy on Tuesday morning.

Speaking from a vantage point overlooking the Barangaroo construction site, Mr Turnbull accused the construction sector of having a “record of lawlessness” and reiterated plans to get laws giving greater of oversight of the industry through the Senate.

If laws restoring the Australian Building and Construction Commission are knocked back one more time it will trigger a double dissolution election in July.

Apparently unconcerned about the polls, Mr Turnbull had a coffee with Senator Cash. Picture: AAP

“Every Australian should support the rule of law and the law is not being complied with in the construction sector,” he added.

It is the first time the Opposition has been ahead since Tony Abbott was replaced by Mr Turnbull last September.

The former prime minister has so far refused to be drawn on the numbers, telling radio this morning that it was never his practice to comment on polls when he was in the top office.

“I shouldn’t break that practice now,” he told Alan Jones on Radio 2GB.

But Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne admitted the fresh polling reflected the government’s “messy week”.

“Polls come and go. And today’s Newspoll is a reflection of the messy week that Greg Sheridan so helpfully talked about at the beginning of the show,” Mr Pyne told the ABC’s Q&A program last night.

He stressed that Mr Turnbull remained preferred PM.

“But actually, if you look at the poll about who people want, Malcolm Turnbull or Bill Shorten, Malcolm always leads Bill Shorten basically two to one,” he said.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten yesterday with Victorian Labor MP Richard Marles and Labor candidate for Corangamite Libby Coker. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash echoed the “messy” comment.

“We dealt with some really difficult issues last week and when you deal with difficult issues, in particular to taxation at both a Commonwealth level and a state level, it can sometimes get a little bit messy,” she told ABC radio on Tuesday.

Just 10 weeks ago the ­Coalition began the political year leading Labor by 53 per cent to 47 per cent.

Support for other parties and independents rose one point to 12 per cent. Based on preference flows from the 2013 election, Labor leads in two-party-preferred terms by 51 per cent to the Coalition’s 49 per cent — a reversal of the poll a fortnight ago.

While the government has suffered through a bad week it has actually been losing ground for a while, according to Labor Senator Sam Dastyari.

“The honeymoon that Malcolm Turnbull first enjoyed when he became leader was never going to last,” he told ABC TV.

“Mr Turnbull may be a more articulate and charismatic person than Tony Abbott but at the end of the day the Australian public will make decisions on policies.”