Labor continues to lead the Coalition in two-party-preferred terms but voter disapproval of Bill Shorten has grown over the summer according to the latest Essential poll.
The poll of 1,017 respondents, conducted from Friday to Monday and released on Tuesday, shows Labor steady with 53% of the two-party-preferred vote to the Coalition’s 47%.
One Nation is steady with an 8% primary vote, the Greens down one to 9% and Nick Xenophon up one to 4% since the last Essential poll in December.
It confirms a growing One Nation vote, up from a nationwide Senate vote of 4.3% at the July election, and comes after a ReachTel poll this week showing the minor party outpolling the Greens.
Malcolm Turnbull’s approval rating rose from 34% to 37%, although his disapproval also increased from 46% to 48% for a net -11 approval rating. Approval of Shorten increased from 35% to 37%, but disapproval increased from 38% to 44%, increasing his net approval from -3 to -7.
On preferred prime minister, Turnbull is steady at 39%, Shorten steady at 28%, with 33% of voters saying they don’t know who they prefer. Turnbull enjoys strong support among men, with 44% saying he makes the better prime minister compared with 29% who nominate Shorten.
Among women, 35% prefer Turnbull and 26% prefer Shorten, suggesting they are more undecided about both the leaders.
The poll was taken after a week of revelations of taxpayer-funded travel claims by ministers and MPs to attend sports events and culminating in Sussan Ley’s resignation as health minister on Friday.
The government also came under attack for its handling of the Centrelink automated debt recovery system, with Labor claiming debts are being issued on an unfair, indiscriminate and inaccurate basis to low-income and vulnerable people.
