Voter backlash goes with the territory of being a “reforming treasurer”, cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek has said as fresh polling ranks Jim Chalmers the worst-performing senior minister ahead of a widely expected rate hike.
The latest Newspoll showed Labor’s primary vote fell to its equal-lowest level since winning government in 2022, handing One Nation a one-point lead at 28 per cent.
The poll also showed a third lift in the Coalition’s core support, landing at 21 per cent.
Newspoll has put Labor’s primary vote at 27 per cent. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
One Nation’s core support is at 28 per cent. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
But Mr Chalmers’ minus 16 approval rating was a stand out figure.
Just 24 per cent of respondents were satisfied with his performance, 40 per cent dissatisfied and 16 per cent neutral.
Ms Plibersek said on Monday that “no reforming treasurer in Australian history … hasn’t copped it when they’ve made big changes”.
“We all support Jim. We all make decisions together. They are tough decisions,” she told Seven’s Sunrise.
“And yet, when the government makes the tough decisions … the Treasurer is the one who has to lose skin on it.”
Plibersek says all ‘reforming treasurers’ have copped backlash. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Mr Chalmers last week owned up to his role in Labor’s decline in the polls, saying “it’s only right and only fair that I put my hand up and take responsibility for my share of that”.
“The way that other people describe their role in that, and their responsibility for that, is up to them,” he told the Inside Politics podcast.
The comments came amid reporting that Mr Chalmers has struggled to get ideas through cabinet’s Expenditure Review Committee, with the Prime Minister and his senior factional allies repeatedly pushing back on pitches to raise revenue and spend less.
Polls a sign of support to ‘cut spending’: senior Liberal
The Newspoll gave Mr Albanese a 42-40 per cent lead over Angus Taylor as preferred prime minister – a marked improvement for the Opposition Leader compared to when he rolled predecessor Sussan Ley in February.
Angus Taylor is gaining ground on Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan hailed it as a sign Australians want Canberra to rein in spending as they stare down a “17th interest rate rise” under Mr Albanese.
“Angus Taylor has been … putting out a plan, saying where we should cut spending, including when it comes to the Labor Party’s net zero obsession,” he told News24.
“And I think bit by bit … that’s getting us back in the game.”
The latest DemosAU poll also found the opposition is gaining ground on Labor.
Published on Sunday night, it put primary support for Labor at 26 per cent and both the Coalition and One Nation at 24 per cent.
