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Coalition slumps to worst primary vote under Turnbull as parliament returns Coalition slumps to worst primary vote under Turnbull as parliament returns
(35 minutes later)
Support for the federal Coalition is at its lowest level since Malcolm Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott as prime minister, the first Newspoll of the year shows.Support for the federal Coalition is at its lowest level since Malcolm Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott as prime minister, the first Newspoll of the year shows.
As politicians return to Canberra for the resumption of parliament, the Coalition trails Labor by 46 to 54% on a two-party-preferred basis. The Coalition’s primary vote fell four points over the summer to 35%, with Labor unchanged on 36%.As politicians return to Canberra for the resumption of parliament, the Coalition trails Labor by 46 to 54% on a two-party-preferred basis. The Coalition’s primary vote fell four points over the summer to 35%, with Labor unchanged on 36%.
It is the first time since August 2015 that the Coalition’s primary vote has fallen below Labor’s, but disaffected voters are turning to minor parties, particularly One Nation, rather than the ALP, the poll published in the Australian suggests.It is the first time since August 2015 that the Coalition’s primary vote has fallen below Labor’s, but disaffected voters are turning to minor parties, particularly One Nation, rather than the ALP, the poll published in the Australian suggests.
Support for independents and minor parties increased from 15 to 19% on the primary vote, with One Nation at 8%, two points behind the Greens.Support for independents and minor parties increased from 15 to 19% on the primary vote, with One Nation at 8%, two points behind the Greens.
Turnbull remained clearly in front of Shorten as preferred prime minister, with his support rising one point to 42% while the Labor leader fell two to 30%. But the Coalition has now lost seven Newspolls in a row under Turnbull, who cited Abbott’s run of 30 lost polls in a row as one reason for overthrowing him as Liberal leader in September 2015.Turnbull remained clearly in front of Shorten as preferred prime minister, with his support rising one point to 42% while the Labor leader fell two to 30%. But the Coalition has now lost seven Newspolls in a row under Turnbull, who cited Abbott’s run of 30 lost polls in a row as one reason for overthrowing him as Liberal leader in September 2015.
Asked about the poor poll on ABC radio on Monday, leader of the house Christopher Pyne said the government was “not going to be distracted by polls that come and go”.
“There isn’t an election for two and a half years in Australia and whether the polls are up or down in February 2017 when an election is not due until mid 2019 is really neither here nor there.”
Politicians of all parties are keen to reset the narrative in their favour in the first sitting week of the year.Politicians of all parties are keen to reset the narrative in their favour in the first sitting week of the year.
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, will renew his push to abolish the Life Gold Pass for former politicians, saying it is one of the entitlements voters cannot stand.The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, will renew his push to abolish the Life Gold Pass for former politicians, saying it is one of the entitlements voters cannot stand.
He will also use the first day of parliament this week to call on the government and Labor to renegotiate the terms of Australia’s alliance with the US, saying it is no longer serving the country’s interest.He will also use the first day of parliament this week to call on the government and Labor to renegotiate the terms of Australia’s alliance with the US, saying it is no longer serving the country’s interest.
The Turnbull government has stumbled painfully through the summer break, with an expenses scandal forcing Sussan Ley to resign as health minister, and the government’s Centrelink debt recovery program angering thousands.The Turnbull government has stumbled painfully through the summer break, with an expenses scandal forcing Sussan Ley to resign as health minister, and the government’s Centrelink debt recovery program angering thousands.
Di Natale told Guardian Australia that after yet another round of entitlements scandals, and fresh concerns about political donations, Australia needed to “clean up” its politics.Di Natale told Guardian Australia that after yet another round of entitlements scandals, and fresh concerns about political donations, Australia needed to “clean up” its politics.
“I think the democratic deficit is a more important issue right now than the budget deficit,” he said, in reference to the loss of faith in democratic institutions domestically and internationally.“I think the democratic deficit is a more important issue right now than the budget deficit,” he said, in reference to the loss of faith in democratic institutions domestically and internationally.
“We will do everything we can to make donations reform and an anti-corruption watchdog key priorities for this parliament in coming weeks.”“We will do everything we can to make donations reform and an anti-corruption watchdog key priorities for this parliament in coming weeks.”
Di Natale said he would like to abolish the Life Gold Pass for former politicians, including former prime ministers. “Get rid of it for everybody,” he said. “It’s a rort. I think it represents why people are deserting the establishment parties.”Di Natale said he would like to abolish the Life Gold Pass for former politicians, including former prime ministers. “Get rid of it for everybody,” he said. “It’s a rort. I think it represents why people are deserting the establishment parties.”
The Coalition announced two and a half years ago that it would scrap the pass – which allows former politicians to fly business class at taxpayers’ expense – but the legislation is still before parliament.The Coalition announced two and a half years ago that it would scrap the pass – which allows former politicians to fly business class at taxpayers’ expense – but the legislation is still before parliament.
The government said in November it planned to reintroduce the bill and get it passed before Christmas, but did not do so.The government said in November it planned to reintroduce the bill and get it passed before Christmas, but did not do so.
The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, has started the week on the attack, saying this had been the worst summer for a government in memory, “even worse than when Tony Abbott knighted Prince Phillip”.The Labor leader, Bill Shorten, has started the week on the attack, saying this had been the worst summer for a government in memory, “even worse than when Tony Abbott knighted Prince Phillip”.
“The Liberals are starting this year how they ended the last,” he said on Sunday. “They are hopelessly divided and dysfunctional, led by a prime minister desperate to cling to his job.“By contrast, Labor and I have been listening to Australians and outlining our plans to see more Australians get the skills they need for a good job.“For Labor and for me, the number one priority is Australian jobs. Malcolm Turnbull’s only priority is his own job,” he said.“The Liberals are starting this year how they ended the last,” he said on Sunday. “They are hopelessly divided and dysfunctional, led by a prime minister desperate to cling to his job.“By contrast, Labor and I have been listening to Australians and outlining our plans to see more Australians get the skills they need for a good job.“For Labor and for me, the number one priority is Australian jobs. Malcolm Turnbull’s only priority is his own job,” he said.
On Sunday the Labor MP Terri Butler urged renegade MPs inside the government who support same-sex marriage to mobilise quickly in coming week, following news some Liberal party MPs were considering a fresh push for a free vote on the floor of parliament.On Sunday the Labor MP Terri Butler urged renegade MPs inside the government who support same-sex marriage to mobilise quickly in coming week, following news some Liberal party MPs were considering a fresh push for a free vote on the floor of parliament.
Turnbull told Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes on Sunday evening his phone call with the US president, Donald Trump, last week worked in Australia’s favour, because it inspired “dozens and dozens” of US congressmen to publicly support the Australia-US alliance.Turnbull told Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes on Sunday evening his phone call with the US president, Donald Trump, last week worked in Australia’s favour, because it inspired “dozens and dozens” of US congressmen to publicly support the Australia-US alliance.
He said he wanted voters to know his government’s first priority was the economy and jobs. “Everything I am doing is determined and focused on setting us up to succeed again and again in the future, and ensure that we’ve got the great jobs, the great well-paying jobs, the great opportunities for our kids and grandkids,” Turnbull said.He said he wanted voters to know his government’s first priority was the economy and jobs. “Everything I am doing is determined and focused on setting us up to succeed again and again in the future, and ensure that we’ve got the great jobs, the great well-paying jobs, the great opportunities for our kids and grandkids,” Turnbull said.