Tony Abbott preferred PM in latest poll
Voters have overwhelmingly endorsed the Coalition government’s “dull and boring” budget, sending Tony Abbott’s personal approval rating soaring an eight-month high.
According to a Newspoll published in The Australian on Monday, Mr Abbott is now back in front of Labor’s Bill Shorten as preferred leader for the first time in six months.
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In the first Newspoll conducted following the budget, the government’s primary vote is up one point and leads Labor, 40 to 37 per cent.
Four times as many people believe they will be better off in this year’s budget compared to last year, while more than 40 per cent believe the budget is good for the economy.
The Greens primary vote was unchanged at 12 per cent after replacing leader Christine Milne with Richard Di Natale earlier this month.
Labor is ahead of the Coalition on a two-party-preferred basis by a comfortable six points however, leading 53 to 47 per cent.
A Fairfax-Ipsos poll published on Sunday has the two major parties tied at 50 per cent..
While the budget hasn’t sent the government’s poll standing soaring, the results indicate a dramatic turnaround for the Mr Abbott since February, when one-third of his own party attempted to oust him as leader.
Now, nearly 40 per cent of voters are satisfied with the prime minister’s performance, up from just 25 per cent in February.
Inversely, Mr Shorten’s approval rating has flatlined at 35 per cent, the same result he posted in the February Newspoll.
For the first time since November, Mr Abbott is ahead as preferred prime minister and leads Mr Shorten, 41 to 40 per cent.