Support for the minor party One Nation has surged significantly, with a recent Newspoll indicating that the party’s backing has increased by five percentage points to reach 27 percent. This rise comes as the Liberal Party, led by Sussan Ley, experiences unprecedented lows in public approval, prompting speculation about potential challenges to her leadership.
According to the latest polling data, the Liberal leader has recorded the lowest satisfaction ratings for a major party leader in 23 years. Ley’s net satisfaction rating has plummeted to -35 percent, amid ongoing splits and infighting within the Coalition, particularly between the Liberals and their junior partner, the Nationals. This internal discord has been a significant factor in the decline of voter support.
The survey, which engaged over 1,200 respondents in the past four days, reveals that only 23 percent of participants expressed satisfaction with Ley’s leadership, a drop from 28 percent in the previous month. Her personal approval ratings now reflect the worst performance for a major party leader since Simon Crean of the Labor Party in May 2003.
The polling figures have galvanized supporters of Angus Taylor, who are expected to use this disastrous performance as leverage in discussions regarding a possible leadership spill within the Liberal Party this week. The results also indicate that One Nation’s primary vote has edged closer to the Labor Party’s support, contrasting sharply with the Coalition’s current standing at just 18 percent.
In the context of a hypothetical federal election, the Newspoll indicates that 33 percent of surveyed voters would support the Labor Party, a slight increase of one point since last month’s findings. Meanwhile, the net satisfaction for Labor leader Anthony Albanese has improved marginally to -10 percent. Notably, 49 percent of respondents believe Albanese would make a better Prime Minister compared to Ley, who garnered support from only 30 percent of those surveyed.
This shift in voter sentiment underscores a significant challenge for the Liberal Party as it grapples with internal divisions and declining public support, while One Nation capitalizes on its growing appeal among the electorate. The coming days may prove critical as the party navigates the implications of these polling results and considers its leadership dynamics.
