Newspoll: Anthony Albanese begins election year with worst-ever approval ratings

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Newspoll: Anthony Albanese begins election year with worst-ever approval ratings

Anthony Albanese’s chances of a second term in the Lodge have been dealt a major blow, with Newspoll reporting the Prime Minister has slumped to his worst-ever approval ratings.

Ahead of Mr Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton both campaigning in Perth on Monday, the new poll from The *********** shows the gap between the pair as preferred Prime Minister has narrowed to just three points — the closest this term.

Mr Dutton climbed three points to 41 per cent, while Mr Albanese dropped to 44 per cent as the nation’s preferred leader.

The Prime Minister’s net personal approval dropped to minus 20 per cent — with just 37 per cent of voters supporting the job he was doing, while 57 per cent were dissatisfied.

Mr Dutton’s net approval rose slightly to minus 11, with a one point change in those satisfied with performance.

Labor dropped two percentage points on primary support, to 31 per cent, while the Coalition remained steady on 39 per cent.

And the tide is turning on expectations for Labor, with a majority of voters now believing the most likely outcome from the next election — due to be called for before May 17 — was a Coalition Government.

While a third of Australians believed a Labor Government relying on crossbench support from the Greens and the Teals was most likely, 29 per cent believed Mr Dutton would be Prime Minister with a ********* government.

Another near quarter of voters (24 per cent), believed the Coalition could return to majority government. Just 15 per cent of Australians believed Mr Albanese could be re-elected with a majority.

The poor start to the year comes after the Prime Minister kicked off an early pre-campaign tour across Australia’s north in the first full week of the year, hoping to sure up seats in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia

Mr Dutton started a week later, with a campaign rally in Victoria, where the Liberals hope a dire change of fortunes for Labor will see seats return.

In a wide-ranging interview on Australia Day, Mr Albanese refused to commit to delivering his Government’s next budget as planned in March, fuelling speculation he intends to call an April election

Insiders have speculated Mr Albanese may opt for an April election, instead of the latest possible date of May 17, in order to avoid handing down a budget in tough economic conditions.

Asked on Sky News on Sunday about the timing, the Prime Minister responded: “the Budget’s scheduled for March 25”.

Pushed on whether that meant the Government was not planning on delivering the budget, Mr Albanese doubled down.

“Well, it’s scheduled. We’re working through, the ERC met this week. We’re working through the proposals that will form a part of that Budget,” he said.

Amid the falling polls and Labor’s unsteady position going into the election year, Mr Albanese said his job was not just to stand on his record, but to deliver a vision for Australia’s future.

“I’ve been underestimated my whole life,” he said.

“There are a lot of stories before the 2022 election that were along those lines as well.”

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