Newspoll: Coalition claws back primary support from right-wing parties

The Coalition has clawed back support among conservative voters, as the Morrison-Albanese leadership contest narrows.

Satisfaction in the Scott Morrison’s performance as Prime Minister dropped two points to 44 per cent. Picture: Daniel Pockett

The Coalition has clawed back support among conservative ­voters as the leadership contest between Scott Morrison and ­Anthony Albanese narrows to its tightest margin since March last year.

An exclusive Newspoll commissioned by The Australian shows the Coalition recovering from its worst slump since the last election, with a two-point lift in the primary vote to 37 per cent. However, it still trails Labor, which remains on an ­unchanged primary vote of 38 per cent.

The last time the Coalition was ahead of Labor on this critical measure was in June.

The gains for the Liberal and Nationals parties have come at the expense of minor right-wing parties including Pauline Hanson’s One Nation. PHON fell a point to 2 per cent while support for other minor parties also slipped a point from a post-election high of 13 per cent in the previous two polls.

Support for the Greens was unchanged at 11 per cent.

The shift in the conservative vote in the past three weeks has resulted in a slight two-party-preferred improvement for the ­Coalition, which now trails Labor 47-53 per cent – up from 46-54 per cent. The previous poll, which saw the Coalition primary vote fall to its lowest level in three years – 35 per cent – was conducted at the height of internal ructions prior to Mr Morrison flying out to Glasgow to address the COP26 climate change summit.

The improvement for the ­Coalition since then follows the release of the government’s 2050 net-zero pledge and technology-driven climate change plan which – while criticised by Labor and the anti-coal lobby – was underpinned by guarantees that ­regional industries and jobs would be protected.

The poll follows a turbulent few weeks for Mr Morrison, who has suffered a blow to his personal standing in the wake of the diplomatic furore over the cancelled submarine contract and the disputed accusations he had lied to French President Emmanuel Macron about it. Mr Morrison last week attempted to reset the agenda by hitting the unofficial pre-election campaign trail to sell the investment and jobs benefits of the government’s post-Glasgow climate change technology plan.

The Prime Minister also laid down key election markers over the economic recovery and values, seeking to establish clear battle lines between the Coalition and Labor over the role of government in people’s lives as the country moves closer to a full reopening of borders and lifting of social restrictions.

Anthony Albanese’s satisfaction rating has remained unchanged since September, on 37 per cent, but dissatisfaction has risen two points to 48 per cent. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

However, in the head-to-head contest between Mr Morrison and the Opposition Leader, the margin has contracted to its tightest gap since March 2020 when the political fallout from the bushfires crisis was still lingering. Mr Morrison’s 14-point lead over his rival has been cut to 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, following a fall of the same margin in the previous poll. Those dissatisfied with Mr Morrison rose two points to 52 per cent. This is the lowest net approval rating for Mr Morrison since March 2020.

Mr Albanese’s net approval also 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 equal lowest net approval rating – minus 11 – since becoming leader in May 2019.

The latest poll was conducted between November 10 and November 13 and surveyed 1524 voters.