Support for the federal government has slumped, leaving Labor and the coalition tied on a two-party-preferred basis, according to a Newspoll survey.
The coalition leads Labor on the primary vote, 38 per cent to 31 per cent, according to the poll published in The Australian on Monday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor party won the 2022 election with 32.6 per cent of the primary vote.
Labor’s primary vote backing fell four percentage points from the previous Newspoll three weeks ago, while support for the coalition increased by one point.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said while he didn’t get carried away with polls, Labor’s poor showing was a result of frustration at the government for not properly addressing cost of living pressures.
Mr Littleproud took aim at Mr Albanese for focusing on the Indigenous voice referendum instead of hip pocket pressures.
“For 18 months, all Anthony Albanese has managed to do is drive up your cost of living,” he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
The poll also indicated a one-point increase for the Greens to 13 per cen and a two-point rise in support for the minor parties and Âindependents category to 12 per cent.
Support for One Nation was steady at six per cent.
On a two-party preferred basis, Labor and the coalition are neck-and-neck at 50 per cent.
The Australian newspaper’s report suggested such a result at an election would put Labor in a minority government position after a loss of five seats.
The previous Newspoll published earlier in November had Labor ahead 52 per cent to 48 per cent.
The latest survey registered a two-point drop in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s approval rating to 40 per cent while his dissatisfaction level was up a point to 53 per cent, leaving him with a net approval rating of minus 13.
Coalition leader Peter Dutton also has a net approval rating of minus 13 after no change in his approval rating of 37 per cent and disapproval of 50 per cent.
The survey of 1216 voters, conducted between November 20 and November 24, indicated Mr Albanese was the preferred prime minister for 46 per cent of voters, while 35 per cent backed Mr Dutton and 19 were undecided.
By Dominic Giannini in Canberra
