Labor tries to brush off woes as support slumps to decade low

The latest Newspoll has primary support for Labor falling in a grim result for Anthony Albanese. Photo: AAP
Senior ministers have attempted to brush off fresh polling woes for the government, with support for Labor dropping to Gillard-era lows.
Primary support for the government dropped to 29 per cent in the latest Newspoll, published in The Australian on Monday, down from 33 per cent in June.
It was the lowest vote share for Labor since June 2013, not long before Kevin Rudd replaced Julia Gillard as prime minister in an ultimately futile attempt to win that yearâs election.
The poll, conducted in the previous week, put Pauline Hansonâs One Nation on level pegging with Labor but also down one point from June.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said while the polling was down from levels at the 2025 election, there was still a long way until voters next went to the ballot box.
âItâs certainly a change, and weâve got a bit of time between now and the next election to right that, and thatâs why we are absolutely focused every day on making a real difference in peopleâs lives,â she told Sevenâs Sunrise.
âIt takes a while for people to catch up with the difference in their own lives.â
Health Minister Mark Butler also sought to play down the survey results.
âWe donât look at (polls) much. Theyâre coming up on a weekly basis, and they will for the long 18 months until the next election,â he told Nineâs Today.
âWeâre focused on doing the job that we have. Health is a big part of that job, but thereâs a range of other things.â
The coalition continued to trail well behind on a near-record low of 18 per cent, while Labor led 58-42 per cent from the Liberal-National bloc on a two-party-preferred basis.
Albanese, however, remains votersâ preferred prime minister with a comfortable lead over Hanson and Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said the latest poll showed the surge in support for Pauline Hansonâs party was more than just a protest vote.
âObviously, whatâs happened is people donât believe in the authenticity of Labor beyond socialism. Theyâre very good at socialism. Theyâre very good at taking away the rights of our land,â he told Sevenâs Sunrise.
The poll was released ahead of federal parliament returning on Tuesday, as fierce negotiations continue over NDIS reforms and gambling ads.
The Greens are urging Labor to negotiate with them on gambling legislation after a parliamentary inquiry that heard shocking allegations about problem gamblers being wooed with free bets, drugs and sex workers.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she was prepared to discuss a compromise on advertising through streaming services, but inducements should be banned.
Communications Minister Anika Wells previously said she was discussing a possible deal with both the coalition and the Greens to pass legislation that would restrict gambling ads on free-to-air television, among other measures.
The coalition has also criticised Laborâs proposal, saying the legislation required strengthening.
The government is separately hoping to bed down support for its proposed overhaul of the NDIS as an inquiry into the plan prepares to hand down its report on Friday.
Labor wants to kick 160,000 people off the scheme in a bid to stop it from growing further in cost, aiming to bank $38 billion in savings over the next four years.
NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said the government believed its reforms were reasonable and achievable.
âWe think that they will put the scheme on a sustainable form that is there for people with disability in the future who need it and thatâs what matters,â she said on Sunday.
Labor originally wanted to pass changes to the NDIS before the start of July, but it agreed to a delay as part of a deal with the Greens for support for its overhaul of taxes for investors.








