Newspoll: Labor goes backwards as Coalition hits equal largest primary vote high since last election

The Coalition is enjoying its equal largest primary vote lead over Labor since the last election, as Peter Dutton closes in on ­Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister.

Primary support for Labor has dropped to its lowest level since the 2022 election, as Peter Dutton closes in on Anthony Albanese as the preferred prime minister.

With less than a year to go before the next election, Labor’s primary vote fell to 31 per cent for the first time since November last year, after the failed voice referendum, according to an exclusive Newspoll conducted by The Australian.

Soaring grocery prices and energy bills have been key cost-of-living concerns in previous polls, however, the latest survey results show the government’s stalled plan for housing is currently the most significant issue among voters.

Support for the Coalition – yet to announce a housing policy – is at 38 per cent.

Approval of Anthony Albanese’s performance rose two points to 43 per cent.

Voters marked down Peter Dutton with a two-point fall in satisfaction levels to 37 per cent. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

This is the Coalition’s equal largest primary vote lead over Labor since the last election after Labor fell behind the 32.6 per cent primary vote support that secured its election victory in May 2022, according to the poll.

The poll shows the two major parties are now level at 50-50, with support for The Greens lifting a point to 13 per cent, other minor parties including independents rising a point to 12 per cent, while Pauline Hanson’s One Nation dropped a point to 6 per cent.

Voters’ approval ratings for Mr Albanese fell into negative territory after a week of debate over its housing policy.

With major legislation stalled by the Coalition and the Greens in the upper house, the federal government is under pressure to negotiate paths forward if it wants to advance its agenda.

US President Joe Biden bids farewell to Albanese at the end of the Quadrilateral Summit in the US on September 21. Picture: AFP

Of all the cost of-living concerns for voters, housing costs ranked highest at 40 per cent, followed by groceries at 25 per cent, energy bills at 18 per cent and 11 per cent for insurance, according to the Newspoll survey.

The cost of transport, including fuel prices, was the least important concern among the key issues.

Despite the fall in primary support for Labor, approval of Mr Albanese’s performance rose two points to 43 per cent while his dissatisfaction level dropped three points to 51 per cent, giving the prime minister a net negative satisfaction rating of minus-8.

Peter Dutton this week visited the Valley District cricket club in Ashgrove, Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Meanwhile, Mr Dutton suffered a two-point fall in satisfaction levels to 37 per cent. His dissatisfaction rating of 52 per cent remains unchanged, giving him a net negative satisfaction rating of minus-15, his worst result since June.

The head-to-head contest between the two leaders over who was regarded as the better prime minister remained largely unchanged with a slight improvement for Mr Albanese, who leads Mr Dutton 46 per cent to 37 per cent.

Originally published as Newspoll: Labor goes backwards as Coalition hits equal largest primary vote high since last election