Polls reveal drop in support for Labor ahead of Dunkley byelection
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese retains a lead against Peter Dutton. Photo: AAP
Two political polls ahead of Saturday’s critical Dunkley byelection have revealed a drop in support for federal Labor despite the recent tax cuts.
Newspoll, conducted for The Australian newspaper, showed Labor’s primary support down one point to 33 per cent while the Coalition was unchanged on 36 per cent.
A separate Resolve Political Monitor poll for Nine newspapers also found a one point drop for Labor — falling from 35 per cent to 34 per cent.
The Resolve poll showed a boost for the Coalition from 34 to 37, lifting the opposition to its strongest position since the federal election in 2022.
The findings, which come after Labor’s tax cuts for most working Australians, appear to show the move failed to translate to a political boost for the ALP.
However Newspoll shows Labor still retaining a 52-48 per cent lead ahead of Saturday’s Dunkley byelection in outer Melbourne.
Support for independents and minor parties lifted two points to 13 per cent.
The Greens were unchanged on 12 per cent, while Pauline Hanson’s One Nation dropped to 6 per cent.
The ALP would be expected to comfortably retain government if an election were held.
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The personal approval ratings of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese increased one point to 43 per cent and his dissatisfaction rating stayed at 51 per cent for a net approval rating of -8.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s net approval rating dropped to -14.
Dutton also trails the Albanese as preferred prime minister 47-35.
Resolve also showed Albanese maintaining his personal lead over Dutton, ahead by 39 to 32 per cent as preferred prime minister.
But that gap had narrowed to its smallest margin since the election, Nine newspapers reported.
The polls come amid a cost-of-living crisis that would ordinarily affect the government’s fortunes.