Newspoll: Labor’s primary vote drops as PM prepares to call election
As Scott Morrison prepares to call the election within days, the latest Newspoll has revealed some good – and bad – news for the Prime Minister.
National
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Popular support for Labor has fallen after Tuesday’s budget offerings of cheaper petrol and cash handouts as Scott Morrison prepares to call the election within days.
In an exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian ahead of a likely May 14 or May 21 election, it shows Labor’s primary vote falling three points to 38 per cent.
However, Labor is maintaining an election winning two-party-preferred result according to Newspoll of 54-46 when preferences are allocated.
The Coalition has increased its two-party-preferred result by 1 point to 46 per cent. Labor’s lead has dropped by 1 point to 54 per cent.
Some Liberal frontbenchers believe it will be called on Sunday, according to Samantha Maiden from news.com.au
Support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party remained unchanged with each on 3 per cent of the vote.
Support for other minor parties, including independents was also unchanged on 10 per cent.
The Coalition primary vote of 36 per cent is the best result for the Liberal and Nationals parties since December – having dropped to as low as 34 per cent – but remains well down on where they would need to be to win an election.
Similarly, support for Labor is back to where it was at the end of last year.
The latest poll comes after a fortnight of fallout over bullying allegations in both the major parties including claims raised in the wake of the death of Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching that she had been bullied by female Labor frontbenchers before her death.
And last week Mr Morrison became the target of a bitter reprisal from NSW Liberal senator Connie Fierrevante Wells who, after losing her preselection, accused Mr Morrison of bullying behaviour.
However, despite the character attacks on both sides, approval levels for both leaders remained static.
The Newspoll was conducted following the handing down of the federal budget last week, which promised significant short-term cost-of-living remedies but was criticised by Labor as being an election cash splash.
The survey also covered Mr Albanese’s budget in reply speech in which he promised more funding for aged care but was accused of lacking a detailed plan and subsequently failing to rule out new taxes under a Labor government.
The result reflects internal Liberal Party polling that the budget was well-received and Coalition strategists’ hopes that a Labor victory is not yet a foregone conclusion.
Mr Morrison’s approval ratings lifted a point to 42 per cent while those dissatisfied fell a point to 54 per cent.
This resulted in a net negative approval rating of minus 12 – an improvement of four points since his two-year low of minus 19 in late January.
Mr Albanese also dipped back into negative territory with a one-point fall to 43 per cent in his satisfaction ratings and a two-point increase to 44 per cent in those dissatisfied with his performance as leader.
There were still 13 per cent of voters who had yet to make up their mind about the Opposition Leader, with an election due within the next eight weeks.
There are two dates the Prime Minister can now call an election: May 14 and May 21 with Mr Morrison confirming he will call the election for “mid May.”
Mr Morrison’s approval ratings lifted a point to 42 per cent while those dissatisfied fell a point to 54 per cent.
The Prime Minister’s preferred Prime Minister rating improved slightly to 43 per cent with Mr Albanese was unchanged on 42 per cent.
The Newspoll of 1531 voters was conducted between Thursday and Sunday with online surveys throughout Australia.
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Originally published as Newspoll: Labor’s primary vote drops as PM prepares to call election
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