Support for Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has decreased dramatically for the first time since he became prime minister nine weeks ago.
According to the latest Newspoll released exclusively by The Australian on Sunday evening, Morrison’s approval rating has dropped into negative territory for the first time. The poll suggests 41 per cent of Australians are satisfied with Morrison’s efforts as PM, compared to 44 per cent of people who are dissatisfied.
His net rating of negative three per cent dropped 10 points from an all-time high of seven per cent just two weeks ago. It’s the first Newspoll released since the Wentworth by-election – which saw the Coalition become a minority government.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s approval rating and support for the Coalition has fallen in the wake of the Wentworth by-election. @OliviaLeeming #auspol pic.twitter.com/jBuneog57V
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) October 28, 2018
“It is hardly a surprise. The past fortnight has been very challenging for the government,” 7 News Political Reporter Olivia Leeming said on Monday’s episode of Sunrise. “Not to mention their loss in the Wentworth by-election. Now the Coalition is further behind Labor after preferences in today’s Newspoll.”
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The Labor Party is ahead when it comes to the two-party-preferred vote, sitting on 54 per cent, compared to the Coalition’s 46 per cent. Despite the results, Morrison is still Australia’s preferred prime minister. He’s sitting on 43 per cent, while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is sitting at just 35 per cent.
In the primary vote, Labor has increased to 39 per cent, while the Coalition dropped to 39 per cent. While the results show people are largely dissatisfied with Morrison, it’s a similar story for Shorten. Still, if the latest results are anything to go by, Labor could be in for the win at the next election.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had just one positive approval rating after the 2016 election. The latest poll was based on interviews with 1,646 across Australia between October 25 and October 28. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.4 per cent.
The latest results come just weeks after the Australian Financial Review released its 2018 list of powerful people in Australia, where Morrison nabbed the number one spot. It was originally intended to go to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull before the leadership spill in August.
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Shorten took the number two spot for the second year in a row, while Treasurer Josh Frydenberg took third place.
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