Newspoll: Coalition gains primary support from right-wing parties

The Coalition has gained ground with conservative ­voters as the leadership gap between Scott Morrison and ­Anthony Albanese narrows.

The Coalition has won support from conservative ­voters as the leadership race between Scott Morrison and ­Anthony Albanese has narrowed to its most competitive since March last year.

An exclusive Newspoll by The Australian shows the Coalition has risen from its worst slump since the last election.

However, with a two-point lift in the primary vote to 37 per cent, the Coalition trails Labor by one point.

Support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation fell a point to 2 per cent while support for other minor parties also dropped a point from a post-election high of 13 per cent in the previous two polls.

The Greens remain unchanged at 11 per cent.

There has been a slight two-party-preferred improvement for the ­Coalition, which now trails Labor 47-53 per cent – up from 46-54 per cent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to attendees during a visit to an Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, Melbourne, Victoria. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

The previous poll of three weeks ago saw the Coalition primary vote fall to its lowest level in three years – 35 per cent.

Since then, the government has released its 2050 net-zero pledge and climate change plan which included guarantees that ­regional industries and jobs would be protected.

Mr Morrison’s appearance at the COP26 climate change summit coincided with a diplomatic upset when French President Emmanuel Macron said he had been lied to about the cancelled submarine contract.

Upon his return, Mr Morrison has begun selling the benefits of the post-Glasgow climate change technology plan to voters.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

However, in the contest between Mr Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, the gap has narrowed to its tightest since March 2020 when Mr Morrison was still shrouded by the bushfires crisis.

Mr Morrison has just an eight-point lead, with Mr Albanese gaining four points to 38 per cent and Mr Morrison falling two points to 46 per cent.

Satisfaction in the Prime Minister’s performance as leader dropped two points to 44 per cent. Those dissatisfied with Mr Morrison rose two points to 52 per cent giving him the lowest net approval rating since March 2020.

Mr Albanese’s net approval also dipped went backwards, with his satisfaction rating remaining unchanged since September on 37 per cent but dissatisfaction rising two points to 48 per cent.

This is Mr Albanese’s lowest net approval rating since becoming leader in May 2019.

Originally published as Newspoll: Coalition gains primary support from right-wing parties