- Tanya Plibersek grilled on TV
- Polls show support for Labor is declining
A senior Labor Party minister has been given a blunt reality check as the latest polls show a fall in support for the party.
Minister of Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek faced some tough questions about 7NEWS’ Sunrise program on Monday morning.
It comes as support for Labor and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s approval rating both fell sharply in the first Newspoll conducted since the defeat of the Voice to Parliament referendum.
When asked by host Natalie Barr if she was concerned about the latest polls, Ms Plibersek said “polls are jumping around” and the government was focused on their obligations to Australians.
‘The polls are jumping around but the Prime Minister is absolutely determined to do what he promised, he promised a referendum, he did it, he promised cheaper childcare which he delivered, he promised cheaper medicines, where by doing that, promising higher wages, free TAFE, we are doing that, we are staying focused on what we promised to do,” she said.
Ms Barr pointed out that support for the Labor Party is ‘declining in every respect’.
‘Are you bringing up something like that? I know you can’t say exactly, but just sit tight and hang in there, guys. We are really concerned, especially among Labor supporters, and all measures are being scrapped. Do you even mention it?’ Ms Barr asked the Minister.
‘What we’re focused on is making sure we have a strong healthcare system, a strong education system that invests in the infrastructure that people need, housing, roads, the transition to renewable energy, the real business of government, that’s what we’re talking about about,” Ms Plibersek said. replied.
Minister of Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek faced some tough questions from Natalie Barr on Monday morning
National MP Barnaby Joyce was also on the programme, saying Ms Plibersek was repeating pre-agreed party lines.
“There’s a place called the Prime Minister’s Office and they said, ‘Tanya, these are lines you have to say, everything is great and everything is beautiful, there’s nothing to see here.’
‘The truth is that people are queuing outside food banks to get free food.
“She bought up the energy transition that people hated, transmission lines and solar factories and energy prices going through the roof, reliability going down the drain, money going abroad. They’re off the ball.’
Mr Joyce also called the recent referendum on an indigenous voice in parliament an “absolute debacle”.
The coalition leads Labor in the primaries, 37 percent to 35 percent, according to the poll published in The Australian on Monday.
Anthony Albanese’s approval rating fell four points to 42 percent in the latest Newspoll
On a two-party preference basis, Labor leads the coalition 52 percent to 48 percent – its weakest result since it won government in 2022.
The survey of 1,220 voters, conducted between October 30 and November 3, showed Mr Albanese’s approval rating fell by four points to 42 percent, while his dissatisfaction rating rose by six points to 52 percent.
Albanese’s popularity as the country’s favorite prime minister also fell by five points to 46 percent, while Liberal leader Peter Dutton was at 36 percent.
Dutton’s performance as opposition leader saw a two-point increase to 37 percent of satisfied voters, while his 50 percent dissatisfaction rating was lower than the prime minister’s for the first time.