Second Newspoll in a row shows no net gain for Labor after its tax reset

Labor’s primary vote has dropped ahead of this weekend’s Dunkley by-election, while the PM’s approval ratings remain in negative territory, the latest Newspoll has found.

Anthony Albanese’s approval rating is stuck in negative territory. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Adam Yip

Labor’s primary vote has dropped to 33 per cent ahead of Saturday’s critical Dunkley by-election, with Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings remaining in negative territory despite the government retaining its lead over the Coalition on preferences.

An exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows a one-point fall in support for Labor since the previous poll amid the government’s campaign to boost its political stocks through its revamped tax cuts.

The Coalition’s primary vote remains unchanged at 36 per cent. Labor has maintained its 52-48 per cent lead on a two-party preferred basis.

One Nation fell a point to 6 per cent, the Greens remained stable on 12 per cent. However, other minor parties and independents including teal independents, improved two points to 13 per cent.

The latest results show the government having failed to improve its position overall since December, with no apparent boost from last month’s tax cut announcement, which sought to redistribute income tax cuts for higher-income earners to lower and middle-income earners.

While the tax cuts were supported by a majority of Australians, the latest Newspoll shows they have failed to translate into an increase in support for Labor.

The government has come under political pressure over the past two weeks following the forced release of documents showing that 149 immigration ­detainees had been released by the government since last year’s High Court decision, including convicted murderers and rapists.

Last week, the government was also forced to defend its border credentials following the ­arrival of an asylum-seeker boat on the Australian mainland.

With the cost of living remaining the primary concern of a ­majority of voters, the Coalition has sought to exploit Mr Albanese’s broken promise on tax cuts and highlight the disparity ­between the amount of money workers would receive in the restyled tax plan and what they had lost in disposable income over the past 18 months due to inflation.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: David Crosling

At 33 per cent, Labor’s position remains consistent with its election result of more than 18 months ago. This saw Labor win government with a slim majority on its lowest primary vote on record.

The Coalition’s primary vote of 36 also remains at the levels ­recorded at the last election, which saw its parliamentary representation fall to the party’s lowest since it was formed.

The latest poll shows that Labor remains in an election winning position. Its worst poll result was recorded in November following the referendum defeat and the High Court’s decision on the forced release of immigration detainees.

Labor’s primary vote fell then to 31 per cent, with the Coalition rising to 38 per cent and the two-party preferred contest dropped to 50-50. This coincided with Mr Albanese falling into negative territory for the first time.

Labor has since managed to recoup those losses but has failed to improve its overall position since the election.

There has been little change outside the margin of error when it comes to the performance of both leaders. Mr Albanese’s personal approval ratings rose a point to 43 per cent, while his dissatisfaction ratings remained at 51 per cent, giving the Prime Minister a net negative approval rating of minus eight.

Liberal leader Peter Dutton’s approval ratings remained unchanged at 37 per cent, with a one-point rise in dissatisfaction to 51 per cent. Mr Dutton’s net ­approval rating is minus 14.

The head-to-head contest also remains largely unchanged, with Mr Albanese improving a point to 47 per cent as preferred prime minister and Mr Dutton remaining on 35 per cent.