Support for Voice slips to lowest level, poll suggests referendum on track for defeat

Anthony Albanese is “confident” his major promise will still succeed despite poor polling results.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is confident a majority of Australians will vote “yes” in the upcoming referendum despite a new poll revealing a slip in support for enshrining an Indigenous Voice to parliament.

The latest Newspoll, conducted for The Australian, shows the referendum is on track for defeat, with support for the “yes” vote slipping four points to a new low of just 43 per cent.

The “no” vote meanwhile rose four points to 47 per cent – with four of six states tracking to vote “no”, and NSW and Victoria the only states likely to have a majority “yes” vote.

A referendum can only succeed if a majority of people in a majority of states vote in favour of changing the constitution.

Mr Albanese said he was not deterred by the latest poll, instead stating his confidence that Australians would back the right horse later this year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has suffered a blow in the latest poll. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I think that as Australians focus on what is before the Australian people in the last quarter of this year – recognition and listening – it’s all upside, there’s no downside for this proposal,” he told ABC News.

“As they focus on that, as business and unions and faith groups and sporting codes all go out there campaigning, talking to people, having a look at what the actual question is that is being asked here … I believe that a majority of Australians will come to a view that I have come to, which is that we will have greater respect to Indigenous Australians but we will also enrich and lift up our nation.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and we will be saying to Australians, if not now, when will we recognise Indigenous Australians in our constitution?

“I am confident that a majority of Australians will vote yes.”

But with the referendum expected anytime between October and December, the latest polling shows the “yes” campaign has a long way to go if it is to meet the requirements to change the constitution by getting a majority of people in a majority of states to vote “yes”.

The sharpest fall in support for the Voice was in the 35-49 bracket, where there was a seven point fall.

The only demographic where the “yes” vote is still above 50 per cent is university graduates aged 18 to 34. The poll suggests women are more likely to vote for constitutional change, but support still lingers below 50 per vent.

Parliament was dominated by questioning of the Voice last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The poll results comes as the legislation setting up the referendum passed the parliament, and after a week dominated by Coalition questioning on the scope of the Voice.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last week ramped up his rhetoric, suggesting Labor should delay the Voice vote because Australian’s weren't “ready” to vote in the referendum.

Mr Dutton instead proposed the government legislate the voice, and enshrine constitutional recognition without the body to get more people over the line.

“We believe that’s the moment that the Prime Minister should grasp, because the Australian public is not ready to vote for the Voice,” he said on Thursday.

Mr Albanese has rejected the calls, saying “if not now, when”.

The latest poll also reveals Mr Albanese’s personal approval ratings have fallen to their lowest level since the election.

Popular support for Labor remains unchanged at 38 per cent to the Coalition’s small increase to 35 per cent.