Newspoll: Coalition closes gap on Labor, Anthony Albanese slides

The Coalition has narrowed the electoral gap on Labor as Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings slip back into negative territory.

Scott Morrison’s approval ­ratings also ­appear to have stabilised after a dramatic slump following the initial handling of the bushfire crisis. Picture: AAP

The Coalition has managed to narrow the electoral gap on Labor and arrest a collapse in support as Anthony Albanese’s personal ­approval ratings slip back into negative territory for the first time since December.

Scott Morrison’s approval ­ratings also ­appear to have stabilised after a dramatic slump following the initial handling of the bushfire crisis.

An exclusive Newspoll ­conducted for The Australian shows no movement in the ­Coalition’s primary vote, which remains stuck at 38 per cent and three points down on its election result. Popular support for Labor, however, has dropped a point for the second consecutive poll — down to 34 per cent.

Anthony Albanese suffered an eight-point deterioration in his own numbers. Picture: AAP

The result has produced a two-point turnaround in the two-party-preferred vote, with the Coalition pegging back a 52-48 per cent lead for Labor three weeks ago to now trail by 49-51.

The slight improvement for the government follows a string of political misadventures, including the loss of cabinet minister Bridget McKenzie over the sports rorts affair and the subsequent implosion of the Nationals, which resulted in an unsuccessful leadership challenge. However, it also follows pressure on the Labor leader over claims he is sending mixed messages on climate change and coal.

The continuing concern over the impacts of the coronavirus and renewed debate over emissions ­reduction targets have also dominated the political landscape. Parliament resumes on ­Monday for another two-week ­sitting period with little in the way of big-picture legislation ­planned.

Click here for the full Newspoll results

The Newspoll results suggest voters remain unimpressed with both major parties as well as their leaders, with both now stuck in negative territory.

A two-point net improvement for Mr Morrison follows the lowest Newspoll reading of his leadership. Satisfaction with his performance lifted a point to 38 per cent, while those dissatisfied dropped a point to 58 per cent.

Mr Albanese, however, suffered an eight-point deterioration in his own numbers, falling from 43 per cent to 39 per cent on ­approval ratings and rising from 40 to 44 on disapproval.

The fall puts him back into negative territory for the first time since early December.

Mr Morrison has also closed the gap on Mr Albanese as preferred prime minister after the Labor leader leapt ahead following the political fallout over Mr Morrison’s Hawaii holiday.

Popular support for the Greens remains at a record high of 13 per cent with no change since the last poll despite the transfer of leadership from Richard Di Natale to Adam Bandt.

Support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation has not shifted since December and remains at 4 per cent, which is slightly above the election result of 3.1 per cent.

Other minor parties and independents lifted to 11 per cent and are now almost back to the election high of 11.8 per cent.