Australia’s Labor government is facing mounting pressure, with a new poll showing Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers at their weakest personal standings in the series and the party’s primary vote at a record low.
The Australian Financial Review RedBridge Accent poll puts One Nation narrowly ahead of Labor on the primary vote, 29 per cent to 28 per cent. The lead has changed hands between the two parties in each of the past six months, underlining the volatility of the political landscape.
Coalition support was broadly unchanged, while the Greens’ primary vote fell by one point to 11 per cent after David Shoebridge took over as leader from Larissa Waters, who stepped aside because of ill health.
Labor retains a 52 per cent to 48 per cent advantage over One Nation on a two-party-preferred basis, after preferences. That margin was unchanged from the previous month.
Mr Albanese’s net favourability fell 10 points to minus 27 per cent, his lowest result in the polling series. Mr Chalmers recorded a nine-point drop to minus 23 per cent, also a record low.
Pauline Hanson’s net favourability improved slightly to minus 10 per cent, while Coalition leader Angus Taylor’s fell three points to minus 6 per cent.
Mr Albanese remains the voters’ preferred prime minister, but his lead is narrowing. He was unchanged on 31 per cent, compared with 26 per cent for Ms Hanson, who gained two points. Mr Taylor remained on 15 per cent.
Labor loses ground on economic concerns
The poll of 1,000 voters was conducted from Monday to Friday as the government faced renewed scrutiny over spending, another interest rate rise and continuing attention on inflation.
Cost of living was the dominant concern, cited by 73 per cent of those surveyed. Healthcare followed on 36 per cent, housing affordability on 33 per cent, immigration on 29 per cent, and crime and public safety on 24 per cent.
Concern about economic management rose seven points in a month to 21 per cent, placing it just outside the five leading issues.
Labor now leads only on healthcare when voters are asked which party is best equipped to handle the country’s main problems. One Nation is ahead on cost of living, housing affordability, immigration and crime, while the Coalition leads on economic management, national security and tax reform.
The Coalition’s advantage on economic management has widened, with One Nation also remaining competitive and Labor slipping back.
