Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s popularity has plunged over the past two weeks, according to a poll released yesterday, suggesting he could struggle to win re-election next year.
Satisfaction with Turnbull’s performance dropped 18 points to a negative net satisfaction rating of minus 24, below opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten, whose popularity decreased by six points to minus 19.
Support for Turnbull as preferred prime minister has also dropped from 48% to 44% within the past two weeks, according to a Newspoll survey published by The Australian newspaper. Shorten closed the gap by seven percentage points, increasing his level of support as preferred prime minister from 29% to 32%. Under Australia’s “two-party preferred” method of voting, Labor retained its narrow 51-49 lead over Turnbull’s coalition government, which it has held for two months. Turnbull is under pressure after his government failed to steal any of the five seats up for grabs in by-elections on July 28.
He has been criticised for his handling of a drought in the country’s most populous state, New South Wales, and the recent distribution without a tendering process of almost half a billion Australian dollars to a small Great Barrier Reef charity.
He also faces a rebellion from among his own parliamentarians, including vociferous coal industry supporter and former prime minister Tony Abbott, on his government’s energy policy, as he seeks to reduce emissions and energy prices.
Australia, which has had five different prime ministers since 2010, is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections by May next year.
Malcolm Turnbull
