The Coalition has surged ahead of Labor in the polls as more Aussies abandon Anthony Albanese amid the cost-of-living crisis.
The Coalition is leading 51.5 per cent to 48.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis in the latest RedBridge poll.
It marks the first time the Opposition has pulled ahead of Labor in this particular poll since Mr Albanese was elected prime minister in 2022.
Only months ago in April, Labor was leading by a comfortable 4 per cent, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The change in sentiment comes as more Australians become increasingly disappointed by Mr Albanese’s cost-of-living policies.
Adding to Peter Dutton‘s support is male voters who are abandoning minor parties such as the Greens.
Since April, the surge in support for the Coalition’s primary vote went from 37 per cent to 41 per cent.
But, in the middle and lower income voting bracket, the jump was even greater.
The Coalition has surged ahead of Labor in the polls as more Aussies abandon Anthony Albanese amid the cost-of-living crisis
Adding to Peter Dutton’s support is male voters who are abandoning minor parties such as the Greens
With voters earning less than $1,000 a week, support rose by six per cent, and amongst those earning between $1,000 and $1,900, votes jumped by four per cent.
Support for Labor by the two income groups waned over the same time period, decreasing from 35 per cent to 31 per cent for those earning $1,000 a week, and from 36 per cent to 31 per cent for residents on $1,000 to $1,900 a week.
Also troubling for Mr Albanese, who will need to head to a federal election by May, is Labor’s primary vote dropping across all demographics from 32 per cent to 31 per cent – 1.58 per cent below its votes from the last election.
But it is great news for the Coalition primary vote, as they have jumped ahead to 41 per cent, which is up from the 35.7 per cent of votes Scott Morrison received when he lost in 2022.
The current number is also close to the 42.04 per cent Morrison beat Shorten with in 2019.
RedBridge director of strategy and analytics Kosmos Samaras, who is a former Labor strategist, said many governments around the world are facing a similar situation.
With voters earning less than $1,000 a week, support rose by six per cent, and amongst those earning between $1,000 and $1,900, votes jumped by four per cent (stock image)
‘Across many Western democracies every incumbent government has either lost or is behind in the polls,’ he said.
‘This is global trend fuelled by an affordability crisis that for many lower income constituencies is worse than any recession they or their families have ever confronted.’
Redbridge director of corporate affairs and communications Tony Barry said it was ‘a difficult time to be an incumbent government’ and believes it is even harder if swing voters see them as ‘a mediocre incumbent government’.
‘We are going to see a series of change elections in many jurisdictions in the coming 12 months and, with such a strongly negative mood sentiment in Australia, Anthony Albanese has to (outline) a credible plan for hope,’ he said.
