Malcolm Turnbull has equalled Tony Abbott’s streak of 30 consecutive Newspoll losses

MALCOLM Turnbull has equalled Tony Abbott’s horror Newspoll losing streak as his “cranky” colleagues urge him to change his ways to reverse the government’s fortunes.

MALCOLM Turnbull has equalled Tony Abbott’s horror Newspoll losing streak as his “cranky” colleagues urge him to change his ways to reverse the government’s fortunes.

The Coalition trails Labor 48-52 per cent on a two-party preferred basis in the latest Newspoll, published in The Australian, which is the Prime Minister’s 30th consecutive loss.

Mr Turnbull, who seized on Mr Abbott’s 30 Newspoll defeats when he challenged for the leadership, told the Herald Sun: “I certainly regret referring to polling back in 2015

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“I made my case, however, on a commitment to provide strong economic leadership and restore traditional Cabinet government. I have delivered both.”

The 48-52 result is only the second time in a year the government has been so close to Labor, but Mr Turnbull’s margin over Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has narrowed to just two points.

Mr Abbott and his allies have caused increasing instability recently, but MPs across the government agree there is no immediate push for another leadership change.

Malcolm Turnbull is set to hit 30 consecutive Newspoll losses.

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Instead, they say Mr Turnbull must kick into campaign mode and change some policies to give the government a chance to beat Labor.

A senior government MP said on Sunday night: “We’re five goals down at three-quarter time. Can we win? Of course, but it’s going to require a fairly stunning form reversal.”

Mr Abbott, who is in Victoria on his Pollie Pedal charity bike ride, said he was not part of a leadership challenge and that “none of us should live in the past”.

“The last thing I want to see is instability in the government,” he said.

Victorian MPs say they are “despondent” and “frustrated” with Mr Turnbull, accusing him of being preoccupied with Queensland and New South Wales.

They want him to deliver a major infrastructure funding boost and visit more marginal seats and events, as well as renewing the focus on cost of living, energy and security.

Tony Abbott in Melbourne for the Pollie Pedal. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“Something has gone wrong in mission control in his office,” one MP said.

“They’re not getting the message that to be the PM of the people, you actually have to meet the people.”

Mr Turnbull said he was focused on the number of jobs created by the government, not the number of polls he had lost.

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“The real contest in Australian politics is about the kind of country we want to be,” he said.

“My government will keep delivering on a plan to lower taxes, generate jobs and reduce energy prices.”

A proposed redrawing of Victorian electoral boundaries has set off alarm bells, with Labor in a strong position to win a new seat in Melbourne’s west and two Coalition-held marginal seats, wiping out the government’s one-seat majority.

“We have to win seats to stay in government, almost as if we’re in Opposition,” a Victorian MP said.

WHAT THEY SAID

• MALCOLM TURNBULL — September 2015, when he announced he would challenge Tony Abbott:

“The one thing that is clear about our current situation is the trajectory. We have lost 30 Newspolls in a row. It is clear that the people have made up their mind about Mr Abbott’s leadership.”

• TONY ABBOTT — September 2015:

“The prime ministership of this country is not a prize or a plaything to be demanded. It should be something which is earned by a vote of the Australian people.”

• TONY ABBOTT — March 2018:

“It was the Prime Minister who set this test, and I guess if he fails this test, it’ll be the Prime Minister who will have to explain why the test was right for  ne and not right for the other. It’ll be up to him to tell us all why the test doesn’t apply in his case.”

• MALCOLM TURNBULL — Sunday:

“I certainly regret referring to polling back in 2015. I made my case, however, on a commitment to provide strong economic leadership and restore traditional Cabinet government. I have delivered both.”

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