Newspoll: Support slumps as Scott Morrison leaves for Glasgow
The Coalition has slumped to its lowest level of support in three years after the Nationals’ weighed a 2050 net-zero emissions target.
The Coalition has slumped to its lowest level of support in three years as Scott Morrison prepares to attend the Glasgow climate change summit armed with a commitment to meet a 2050 net-zero emissions reduction target.
It comes amid growing community support for action on climate change, with most voters saying the goal of reducing emissions should be a greater priority for government than keeping energy prices down.
An exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows popular support for the Liberal-Nationals falling two points to 35 per cent, the lowest level of support recorded this term.
The drop follows a fortnight dominated by the Nationals’ deliberations over whether to support a cabinet-mandated 2050 net zero target.
The poll shows 47 per cent of voters believed the government should prioritise meeting emissions reduction targets compared to 40 per cent believing lower energy bills should be the main consideration.
It marks a four-point increase in support since February 2020 in the wake of the bushfire crisis, but confirms a dramatic reversal of sentiment since 2018 when 64 per cent of voters said energy prices should be the priority and only 24 per cent believed reducing greenhouse gas emissions was more important.
Coalition voters were still more inclined to favour cost of living concerns – 50 per cent to 34 per cent – while 59 per cent of Labor voters said emissions targets should be given greater weight than power prices which were supported by 33 per cent.
An average of 10 per cent of voters said energy security – avoiding blackouts – should be the key priority.
Voters also believed Labor rather than the Coalition – 35 per cent to 28 per cent – would be better at leading Australia’s response to the climate change challenge.
The latest Newspoll result marks the worst result for the Coalition since December 2018, four months after Malcolm Turnbull lost the Liberal Party leadership amid a rebellion over climate change policy.
Support for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation rose a point to 3 per cent while Labor also gained a point to 38 per cent.
There was no movement for the Greens which remained on 11 per cent.
The strong support recorded in the previous poll for other minor parties, which includes Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, has been maintained at a post-election high of 13 per cent.
The poll also covers a period that has seen the nation pass the 70 per cent full-vaccination rate, the reopening of both Victoria and NSW following months of lockdown, and a commitment by Queensland to lift its border restrictions before Christmas.
However, the end of lockdowns has delivered no net electoral benefit for Mr Morrison or the Coalition.
On a two-party-preferred basis, the Coalition has drifted a point and now trails Labor 46-54 compared to 47-53 per cent in the last survey conducted three weeks ago.
This is the equal worst result for the government this term with the same result posted in August.
Mr Morrison’s approval ratings have also fallen further into net-negative territory and are now level with those recorded in September.
Approval of the Prime Minister’s performance fell two points to 46 per cent while those dissatisfied with Mr Morrison rose a point to 50 per cent, resulting in a net satisfaction rating of minus four.
They are still well above the lowest recorded during the 2019-2020 summer bushfire crisis when Mr Morrison’s net approval ratings dipped to minus 21.
But voters remain disenchanted with Labor leader Anthony Albanese, whose approval rating remained unchanged at 37 per cent.
Those dissatisfied with his performance fell a point to 46 per cent, producing a net approval rating of minus 9.
A significant percentage of voters have yet to make up their mind about Mr Albanese, with 17 per cent unable to say one way or the other about his performance as Opposition Leader.
In the head-to-head contest over who would make the better prime minister, Mr Morrison has maintained a strong leader over his rival. Mr Morrison lifted a point to 48 per cent with Mr Albanese remaining unchanged on 34 per cent.
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