Tony Abbott accused of scare tactics as poll points to hope of Bishop, Turnbull takeover

THE struggling PM has been accused of ‘pressing the terror button’ as a poll boost points to voters waiting for a Julie Bishop or Malcolm Turnbull to take over.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 23: Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and Treasurer Joe Hockey arrive to House of Representatives question time at Parliament House on February 23, 2015 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Postles/Getty Images)

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has been accused of “pressing the terror button” as a surprise boost in opinion polls for the Coalition suggests voters are waiting for a leadership takeover by Malcolm Turnbull or Julie Bishop.

The Coalition’s primary vote jumped a modest, but significant, three per cent to 38 per cent in two weeks, according to a Newspoll published today. But voters continue to mark down the struggling PM. One explanation for the Coalition’s stronger showing is that voters are factoring in the removal of Mr Abbott and are looking forward to leadership by Malcolm Turnbull or Julie Bishop.

They have decided the Prime Minister is out of touch with the electorate and is not trustworthy, Newspoll, published in The Australian, found.

This is a tie with the Labor Opposition.

Labor’s primary vote dropped from 41 per cent to 38 per cent and its domination of the two-party preferred vote, after allocation of preferences, fell from 57 per cent to 53 per cent.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s rating as preferred Prime Minister was eroded, falling from 48 per cent to 43 per cent over the fortnight while Mr Abbott’s rose from 30 to 35 per cent.

However, the rating of Mr Abbott’s performance remains dismal with 68 per cent still unhappy with how he is doing his job. Dissatisfaction with Mr Shorten left from 40 per cent to 49 per cent, Newspoll found.

One explanation for the Coalition’s rise in the primary vote is that Labor has failed to establish its policy credentials on key issues and is being discounted as an alternative government.

The Opposition, it is argued, has failed to exploit the Coalition’s leadership turbulence of the past three weeks.

However, another explanation is a significant number of voters have already removed Tony Abbott from the leadership and are looking forward to Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull or Foreign Minister Julie Bishop being Prime Minister.

Their support for the Government is not matched by their support for Mr Abbott, with 77 per cent saying they consider him arrogant, just 40 per cent saying he was likable.

Prime Minister Abbott was given low marks for trustworthiness — 43 per cent to Mr Shorten’s 59 per cent — and being in touch with voters — just 33 per cent to Mr Shorten’s 63 per cent.

Labor still has work to do to get the electorate’s confidence in its ability to manage the economy. Mr Abbott leads Mr Shorten on this issue 45-37 per cent. He also has the support of 51 per cent of voters on handling national security to Mr Shorten’s 31 per cent.

But Mr Shorten and Labor lead decisively on health (56-30 per cent), and education (53-33 per cent).

On the Nine network this morning, Mr Abbott laughed off suggestions a group of Coalition ministers had reportedly switched and would now vote against him in a leadership ballot.

The Prime Minister laughed as he said he felt young and vigorous.

“Some mornings we don’t feel like that but that’s the way I feel this morning,” he said.

Meanwhile, Greens leader Christine Milne has slammed the Government’s new counter-terror plan, delivered by a tough-talking PM yesterday, branding it divisive and unhelpful.

“Fanning the flames of fear, difference and anxiety will put Australia at risk,” Senator Milne said. “Tony Abbott is again pressing the terror button in order to shore up his own position. It won’t make us safer.”

“Real leadership will bring people together, not divide them.”