SYDNEY: The majority of Australian voters want the current Labour government out of office, posing a threat to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's re-election plans just months ahead of a national election as his approval rating hits its lowest point, a widely watched poll showed on Feb 17.
A Newspoll conducted for The Australian newspaper said a hung Parliament would be the most likely outcome if the poll numbers were to be replicated at an election due by May.
Some 53 per cent of 1,244 voters surveyed said they did not believe the Labour government deserved to be re-elected, with Albanese's approval rating hitting a record low of minus 21, his worst as prime minister. A total of 34 per cent said Labour should be re-elected.
The Albanese-led Labour government is struggling to lift support despite a slew of measures aimed at pleasing families and businesses grappling with high living costs and boosting jobs.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has held its monetary policy restrictive, keeping rates steady at 4.35 per cent for more than a year, as it looks to bring inflation to its target band of 2 to 3 per cent while preserving employment gains.
But core inflation is now almost back in the RBA's target band and markets widely expect the central bank on Feb 18 to cut rates for the first time since late 2020
The latest Newspoll survey showed the opposition Liberal-National Coalition has maintained its 51-49 lead on a two-party-preferred basis under Australia's preferential voting system, where votes from minor parties are redistributed until a winner is elected.
Labour's primary vote remained stuck on 31 per cent compared to its 2022 election result of 32.6 per cent, indicating Labour could lose up to eight seats, which will prevent Albanese from forming a majority government, the survey said.
A party needs 76 seats to govern in majority. Labour won 77 seats in 2022 and the coalition 58.
Even as more voters are turning against Labour, the opposition coalition has failed to capitalise on it with minor parties and independents lifting its support by a point, the survey said. - Reuters
