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February 25, 2024
Peter Dutton’s Liberals have taken a lead over the Albanese Government for the first time in a major opinion poll, as another survey shows signs of Labor’s vote falling further, ahead of a major by-election test for Labor this weekend.
In a Resolve Poll published across east coast masthead on Sunday evening, the Coalition jumped three points on primary support to 37 per cent, while Labor dropped a point to 34 per cent.
It is the first time in this term of Government the Liberals have lead a Resolve poll.
Broken down by State, the Coalition leads Labor in NSW on primary, 37 per cent to 34, in Victoria, 34 per cent to 32 and in Queensland, where Labor is looking to sure up a second term, 44 per cent to 32.
Across the rest of Australia, Labor leads the Coalition 37 per cent to 31.
Resolve’s poll also showed while Anthony Albanese maintains a lead over Peter Dutton as preferred Prime Minister, support for the Liberal leader had risen from just 17 per cent in 2022, to 32 per cent now.
In a Newspoll published in The Australian, Labor’s primary dropped to 33 per cent, while the Coalition remained level on 36 per cent.
Despite the drop, the Government has maintained a lead over the Opposition on two-party preferred support of 52 per cent to 48.
The numbers come ahead of a parliamentary sitting week, where the Prime Minister is expected to face questions over border protection
This week also marks the final week of campaigning in the Victorian seat of Dunkley, where a by-election will be held on Saturday to replace the late Peta Murphy following a battle with breast cancer.
Labor holds the seat with a 6.3 per cent margin, but during by-elections, the swing in government-held seats is generally around seven per cent, putting the electorate within reach for the Liberal Party.
Standing alongside Labor candidate Jodie Belyea, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the difficulty of the battle.
“We know that it’s a tough fight,” he told Seven’s Sunrise from Frankston on Sunday.
“But we’ve got the best candidate for this seat.
“Jodie will be that and . . . there’s lots of volunteers out here who want to make sure that Peta Murphy’s legacy is carried on in this fantastic community.”
But the by-election will not be a cake walk for the coalition either, opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said.
“There’s been some disingenuous expectation,” he told Sky News.
“This is a tough by-election for the Liberal Party.”
Senator Paterson said the swing expected in Dunkley had been overstated.
“I’ve been on the pre poll booths in Dunkley, there’s no anger towards the government for this by-election, which is obviously understandable,” Senator Paterson said.
