The government is trailing the Coalition on a two-party-preferred basis for a second consecutive month, according to fresh polling data.
The AFR/Freshwater Strategy poll published on Sunday showed the Coalition ahead by 51 per cent to 49 per cent, reinforcing expectations of a Labor minority government after the next election.
Fifty-nine per cent of the 1061 voters surveyed said they were unhappy with where the country was going — a stark contrast to the 28 per cent that were happy.
Among the government’s worst-performing areas were national security, immigration and crime.
While it was also behind the opposition on economic management and cost of living, the government did narrow the gap in those areas by three and five percentage points.
Anthony Albanese remained preferred prime minister over Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
The poll was taken at the end of parliament’s first sitting week after the winter break – a week dominated by political blustering on all sides while legislation sat in a constipated senate.
More to come