In worrying news for Anthony Albanese, voters see Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as the stronger leader who has a clearer vision for Australia, according to the latest polling.
A Freshwater Strategy poll published by the Australian Financial Review on Monday showed Mr Dutton was judged to be a strong leader by 44 per cent of the voters surveyed, compared to just 31 per cent for Mr Albanese.
This apparently showed the Coalition’s tactics of constantly referring to Mr Albanese as a ‘weak leader’ was paying dividends.
Even more alarmingly for Labor, Mr Dutton also had significant leads on a number of other positive attributes, which 1051 voters were asked to assign to him and Mr Albanese in the poll conducted over the weekend.
Mr Dutton outscored Mr Albanese in 10 out of 12 qualities, including having 10-point gaps in having ‘a clear vision for Australia’ and paying ‘attention to detail’.
The Liberal leader also had strong nine-point leads over Mr Albanese when voters nominated which men ‘would be good in a crisis’, are a ‘good problem solver’ and ‘can get things done’.
Voters also strongly credited Mr Dutton as ‘understanding the problems facing Australia’ and for being ‘hardworking’ compared to Mr Albanese.
When asked which leader shared their values and displayed ‘trustworthiness’ Mr Dutton still enjoyed narrow three and two-point leads.
There has been more worrying polling for Anthony Albanese with Peter Dutton being rated a ‘stronger leader’
The only qualities where Mr Albanese led over Mr Dutton were being ‘in touch with ordinary people’ and he also had an eight-point buffer on ‘would be easy to speak to’.
Mr Dutton has opened a substantial lead on Mr Albanese in overall approval ratings, although neither leader is in positive territory, with more voters disapproving of the jobs both men are doing.
Net approval (approval minus disapproval) rating for Mr Dutton sits at minus three compared to Mr Albanese’s minus-17.
However, Mr Albanese has a slight lead over Mr Dutton as preferred prime minister, 46 per cent to 43 per cent, while the Coalition is leading Labor 51 to 49 on a two-party-preferred basis, which was the same result as the previous month.
If this split is repeated at next year’s federal election it would most likely lead to a minority government.
Separate polling conducted earlier this month by Accent Research and the RedBridge Group showed the Coalition to be in the box seat to form that government.
Liberal leader Peter Dutton (pictured left with wife Kirilly) has opened a substantial net approval rating lead on Mr Albanese
Seat-by-seat analysis showed Mr Albanese’s government had ‘near zero’ chance of retaining its majority in the House of Representatives with Coalition set to snatch at least nine electorates.
The polling reported by the Daily Telegraph showed NSW would be a crucial election battleground, with five seats likely to change hands and another seven teetering.
In Victoria, the polling showed the Coalition would likely to claim at least one seat from Labor with another too close to call.
Labor was also in danger of losing at least one seat in other states and territories.
RedBridge found the Coalition’s strategy of targeting outer suburban and regional seats hit hard by cost of living increases was resonating with voters.
The perception of Mr Albanese as a ‘weak leader’ was also reflected in a Newspoll published by The Australian last week.
Just 44 per cent of the 1258 voters polled believed the Prime Minister is a ‘strong and decisive leader’ – a five point slump since previous surveys.
It’s also the lowest rating for a sitting prime minister since Newspoll began asking voters following Kevin Rudd’s election win in 2007.
Mr Dutton, on the other hand, was considered decisive by a steady 60 per cent of voters surveyed.
It’s the highest percentage for a federal opposition leader since Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull more than a decade ago.
Just 44 per cent of the 1258 voters polled believed the Prime Minister was a ‘strong and decisive leader’ – a five point slump since previous surveys.
It’s also the lowest rating for a sitting prime minister since Newspoll began asking voters following Kevin Rudd’s election win in 2007.
Mr Dutton, on the other hand, was considered decisive by a steady 60 per cent of voters surveyed.
It’s the highest percentage for a federal opposition leader since Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull more than a decade ago.
If Mr Albanese loses government after just one term in office, it will be the first time this has happened since 1932 when James Scullin led Labor to a shattering defeat during the economic misery of the Great Depression.
