A dive in the government’s popularity has left Labor neck and neck with the Coalition after preferences, according to the latest Newspoll.
The trend has accelerated sharply since the Voice to Parliament referendum on October 14.
In just a matter of weeks, Labor’s primary vote has fallen 4 per cent down to 31 per cent, trailing the Coalition’s 38 percentage points.
Labor and the Coalition are at a neck and neck tie on a two-party preferred basis which is the first time an even split has been seen since 2021.
On the question of who the better prime minister is, Anthony Albanese still commands an 11-point lead over Peter Dutton.
Confidence in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dropped as Labor’s primary vote sinks in the latest Newspoll conducted for The Australian.
Labor’s primary vote has tumbled four points to 31 per cent in the past three weeks, below its 2022 election result of 32.6 per cent as the federal government continues to face a mounting list of political pressures.
The Peter Dutton-led Coalition’s primary vote has increased to 38 per cent, marking its highest level of support since the election, and on a two-party-preferred basis both major parties are now on par.
The poll also revealed Labor has also lost votes to the left, with support for the Greens rising a point to 13 per cent.
In other minor parties, the teal independents lifted two points to 12 per cent, while Pauline Hanson’s One Nation remained on six per cent.
According to the results, Labor would lose its majority in the House of Representatives if an election were to be held this weekend.
The federal government is set to head into the final parliamentary sitting of the year this week as the Prime Minister comes under increasing pressure to address cost of living issues, the Israel-Hamas war, and the latest High Court decision.
Mr Albanese has since come under scrutiny in recent weeks over his international travel where he’s been grilled by the opposition for not focusing on domestic issues.
The dipping trend of Labor’s primary vote has accelerated since the October 14 referendum when Australians overwhelmingly voted against a Voice to Parliament.
When it comes to performance satisfaction, Mr Albanese remains in the lead by 11 per cent in comparison to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
However, the margin between the two leaders has narrowed significantly since July when Mr Albanese was 25 points ahead of Mr Dutton.
Mr Albanese’s approval ratings also fell a further two points to 40 per cent in the latest polling, its lowest level of approval since the election.
Legislation to strip Australian citizenship from the country’s most dangerous terrorists is expected to be at the forefront of parliament this week, following a High Court decision earlier this month.
Under proposed new laws, the legislation would allow the judiciary to strip dual nationals of their citizenship after 141 detainees were released from detention.
As both chambers return for the final parliamentary sitting fortnight of the year, the government will move to pass legislation as it faces criticism over its handling of immigration issues.
The federal government is also set to introduce $255 million in funding to law enforcement agencies in the wake of the High Court’s decision.
The funding is designed to limit risks in the community, and ensure individuals released from detention were abiding by strict visa conditions.
