Peter Dutton leads Anthony Albanese’s party in poll for first time since 2022 election

Anthony Albanese has suffered a major blow, with a surprise for Peter Dutton and the Coalition rattling the government.

Peter Dutton has hit the lead in the two-party preferred race according to Newspoll for the first time since the 2022 election.

An exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows the Coalition ahead of Labor 51-49, in a surprise result that will rattle marginal seat MPs.

Prime Minister Anthony ­Albanese’s approval rating has also fallen to a new low.

But despite the fact Coalition is now in front on a two-party preferred basis, its lead is not enough to win it enough seats to form government with the poll suggesting a minority Labor government the more likely outcome if an election was held last week.

Primary support for the Coalition remains unchanged, with a shift in ­preference flows from minor parties driving the turnaround in the Coalitions fortunes.

The federal election is widely tipped to occur either in March or May 2025 with fears rising within the ALP that it could see a minority Labor Government forced to govern with independents.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

The Newspoll comes amid an emerging controversy over the departure of Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles former chief of staff who has been paid her $300,000 a year salary since May despite being banned from attending the office to work despite her willingness to do so.

It follows a heated parliamentary week, dominated by the one-year anniversary of the October 7 anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack and debate over the Albanese Government’s response to a rise in anti-Semitism.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has long prided himself on the fact he’s won every Newspoll since the election bragging about the record as recently as September 2.

“We haven’t lost a Newspoll unlike every other government during every term since Newspoll started, I think, certainly since the last few decades,” he told Perth’s 6PR last month.

Now that’s no longer the case.

Anthony Albanese’s disapproval rating is higher than Mr Dutton’s in the latest poll. Picture: NewsWire/Tamati Smith.

But its preference flows from the Greens, that keeps the ALP in the hunt.

Around 12 per cent of voters are backing the Greens and just around 7 per cent are voting for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, taking it to 7 per cent.

Mr Albanese’s approval ratings also fell to the lowest level since becoming Prime Minister.

His satisfaction ratings fell three points to 40 per cent and dissatisfaction in his leadership rose to 54 per cent.

That means his overall approval ratings is now on a par with Mr Dutton.

However, Mr Albanese’s disapproval rating is higher than that of Mr Dutton at 54 per cent compared to 52 per cent.

Mr Albanese remains in front on the question of better prime minister at 45 per cent with Mr Dutton remaining on 37 per cent.

The latest Newspoll was conducted between October 7 and October 11 and surveyed 1258 voters nationally through online surveys.

Originally published as Peter Dutton leads Anthony Albanese’s party in poll for first time since 2022 election