Newspoll has PM hitting two-year popularity high
The percentage of voters happy with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s performance outnumbers those dissatisfied for the first time in two years, a new poll shows.
A new Newspoll, published in The Australian on Monday, indicates Albanese’s federal Labor Party retains a solid two-party-preferred lead over the Coalition at 56 per cent to 44 per cent.
The previous Newspoll, taken in July, had Labor ahead by 57 per cent to 43 per cent.
The latest survey said Labor’s primary vote was unchanged at 36 per cent while the Coalition’s support rose one percentage point to 30 per cent.
The Greens were steady on 12 per cent, One Nation was up one point to nine per cent and backing for the independents and minor parties category dipped two points to 13 per cent.
Polling suggests Anthony Albanese remains the preferred PM over Sussan Ley. Photo: AAP
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Albanese’s previous net approval rating of zero improved in the new poll to +3, with 49 per cent of voters satisfied with his performance and 46 per cent dissatisfied.
It was Albanese’s first positive net approval rating in a Newspoll since September 2023.
Coalition leader Sussan Ley’s net approval rating is at -9, deteriorating from -7 in the previous poll.
About 21 per cent of Newspoll respondents indicated it was still too early to judge her performance.
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On the question of who would be the better prime minister, 51 per cent said Albanese, 31 per cent said Ley and 18 per cent were uncommitted – with that choice up two points since the last Newspoll and the leaders each dropping a point.
The Newspoll of 1283 voters was conducted online between August 11-14.
Meanwhile, another poll published on Monday by Nine shows voter support for the government’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood is split.
The Resolve poll shows 36 per cent don’t believe recognition will affect the situation in the Middle East, while 25 per cent believe it will. The remaining 40 per cent was unsure.
“The feedback is that this move is largely symbolic, which is not to devalue the power of symbols,” pollster Jim Reed told Nine.
“In this case, people don’t think Australia’s actions will make much, if any, difference on the ground in Gaza.”
Australia plans to join France, Canada and Britain in recognising Palestine at the United Nations general assembly meeting in New York next month.
Asked if Australia should wait until Hamas, which controls Gaza, was replaced or until Palestine considered recognising Israel’s right to exist, 32 per cent agreed.
Another 24 per cent said recognition should happen regardless of who was in power.
The Resolve poll of 1800 voters was taken between August 11-16.
