The Coalition’s primary vote has reached historic lows, remaining stagnant at just 24 percent, as revealed by the latest Newspoll published in *The Australian*. This disappointing figure comes despite Opposition Leader Sussan Ley abandoning the party’s commitment to a net zero emissions target. The poll indicates that Labor leads the two-party preferred vote with a substantial 58 to 42 percent margin, reflecting a significant uphill battle for the Coalition moving forward.
In the Newspoll results, Labor maintains a primary vote of 36 percent, while the Coalition falls to its lowest recorded level since primary votes were first counted in November 1985. The data shows One Nation capturing 15 percent of the primary vote, followed closely by The Greens at 13 percent. Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese remains the preferred Prime Minister, with a commanding 58 percent support compared to Ley’s 27 percent.
Despite the Coalition’s struggles, Ley has not lost her status as the preferred leader among party voters. She holds a slight edge with 21 percent support, while Andrew Hastie follows at 15 percent. Among Coalition voters specifically, 28 percent prefer Ley as their leader, compared to 20 percent for Hastie.
Ley’s approval rating has shown a slight improvement, rising from -33 to -29. In contrast, 47 percent of voters express satisfaction with Albanese’s performance in office. Support for minor parties and independents has decreased from 14 percent to 12 percent, which further complicates the Coalition’s position.
The Coalition announced a new energy policy last week, led by Ley and Nationals Leader David Littleproud. This policy arises from the decision to move away from net zero commitments, which Ley described as “practical and balanced.” The approach includes a mix of closing coal plants, removing restrictions on zero-emissions nuclear technology, and scrapping Labor’s 2030 emissions reduction target along with its 2050 net zero goal.
In a policy document shared by Ley, she emphasized that the Coalition is not “anti-renewables.” Rather, she stated that renewable energy sources must be utilized “in the right place” and complemented by baseload power. The new strategy aims to incorporate a blend of gas, hydro, batteries, and coal, presenting a comprehensive energy mix.
“We have to have a government that looks back four years,” Ley remarked. “They (Labor) demonised gas. They didn’t want anything to do with it. The energy minister sort of washed his hands of gas in our system. Reluctantly they’ve had to come back to gas because they know that it’s vital.”
The Coalition’s commitment includes unlocking investment in gas supply and infrastructure while streamlining regulations. Ley stated that they would also commit to an annual offshore acreage release to support increased gas supply.
As the political landscape continues to shift, the Coalition faces significant challenges in regaining voter confidence. The results of the latest Newspoll indicate that Ley and her party will need to adopt effective strategies to pivot away from these record lows if they hope to regain traction with the electorate.
