Bass voters prefer Archer but dissatisfied with PM, says pre-polling

Bass MP Bridget Archer has proved popular in her electorate according to exclusive Newscorp polling, but voters don’t share the same support for Scott Morrison. PRE-POLLING DATA >>

Exclusive Newscorp pre-polling has put the Liberals ahead of Labor in the marginal seat of Bass, despite sixty per cent of those surveyed expressing dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The polling shows the majority of Bass voters are supportive of current sitting Liberal member Bridget Archer, who is known to be a rogue MP.

Last year Ms Archer crossed the floor to back debate on a crossbench bill seeking to establish a federal anti-corruption commission and more recently during debate on the now defeated religious discrimination bill she was also one of five rebel Liberal MPs to vote with Labor to protect all LGBTIQ+ children in schools.

Ms Archer was also vocal about her opposition to cashless welfare cards in 2020 and abstained from voting.

Bridget Archer MP at the Liberal State Conference in Devonport. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

Research commissioned by Newscorp surveyed 876 voters in Bass asking them a series of questions in relation to the upcoming Federal election.

When asked if who they would mostly vote for if the election was held today, 45 per cent of Bass voters said they would vote Liberal, 33 per cent said they would vote Labor, seven per cent backed the Greens, 10 per cent supported One Nation and three per cent said they’d vote for the United Australia Party.

When asked their preferences between just Labor and the Liberals, the data showed 57 per cent backed the Liberals and 43 per cent were in favour of Labor.

The data suggests the gap between the parties compared to the 2019 elections has increased, which showed 50.41 per cent of support for the Liberals compared to 49.59 for Labor.

Voters were asked if they thought favourably or unfavourably of Ms Archer, to which 59 per cent reported they thought favourably of her, 17 per cent thought unfavourably of her, 23 per cent had no view and 1 per cent was undecided.

Participants were also asked how they thought of Labor candidate Ross Hart, who held the seat of Bass from 2016, before he was muscled out by Ms Archer in 2019.

35 per cent responded they thought of Mr Hart favourably, 37 per cent unfavourably, 19 per cent had no view and 8 per cent did not know.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese with Labor candidate for Bass Ross Hart at OneCare's The Manor Kings Meadows retirement village. Picture: Alex Treacy

While the data suggested Ms Archer was popular among Bass voters, the same could not be said for the Prime Minister.

Participants were asked if they were satisfied or dissatisfied with Mr Morrison’s performance as Prime Minister, with 60 per cent reporting they were dissatisfied, 28 per cent saying they were satisfied and 12 per cent undecided.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Josef Chromy Wines near Launceston, 21/02/2022. Picture: Alex Treacy

But Mr Morrison’s apparent unpopularity among Bass voters did not mean the participants in the region were necessarily swayed by his rival, opposition leader Anthony Albanese.

Of those surveyed, only 23 per cent were satisfied with Mr Albanese’s performance as opposition leader, while 43 per cent were dissatisfied and 34 per cent did not know.

When asked who would make a better Primer Minister between the two, the margin was slim, with 40 per cent backing Mr Albanese, 39 per cent supporting Mr Morrison, 10 per cent voting neither and the remaining 10 per cent undecided.

Follow @JudyAugustine