From Roy Morgan Research comes more bad news for Prime Minister Tony Abbott, although opposition leader, Bill Shorten, is on the nose as well:
Former Liberal Party Leader Malcolm Turnbull is again clearly preferred as Liberal Leader by 38% of electors (up 2% since January 12-13, 2015) well ahead of Deputy Leader Julie Bishop 27% (up 1%) and Prime Minister Tony Abbott 12% (down 2%). This is a record low level of support for Abbott since he became Liberal Leader in December 2009. No other candidate has more than 5% support.
- L-NP voters also prefer Turnbull as Liberal Party Leader 30% (up 4%), just ahead of Prime Minister Tony Abbott 25% (down 5%) and Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop (25%, down 3%). Treasurer Joe Hockey has lost significant support since delivering the 2014 Federal Budget and is now at only 6% (up 2%).
- Deputy ALP Leader Tanya Plibersek 23% (up 5%) of electors is now the preferred Labor Leader ahead of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten 21% (down 4%) with both well ahead of Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese 13% (up 3%) and former Treasurer Wayne Swan 10% (unchanged).
- Tanya Plibersek 30% (up 9%) is now also preferred amongst ALP supporters ahead of Bill Shorten 26% (down 9%) for the first time and also Wayne Swan 9% (down 3%) and Anthony Albanese 11% (up 3%).
- If Mr Abbott were to resign as Prime Minister tomorrow, it would appear to be a two-horse race between Malcolm Turnbull 40% (up 2%) and Julie Bishop 30% (down 2%). Their support is more evenly matched amongst L-NP voters with Turnbull (34%) narrowly preferred to Bishop (32%).
- If Labor Leader Bill Shorten were to resign for any reason, Deputy ALP Leader Tanya Plibersek 26% (up 5%) is clearly preferred as ALP Leader ahead of Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese 16% (up 2%) and former Treasurer Wayne Swan 15% (down 1%).
Gary Morgan says:
“Prime Minister Tony Abbott is supported by only 12% (down 2% since January) of Australian electors as the best person to lead the Federal Liberal Party, well behind both former Liberal Party Leader Malcolm Turnbull 38% (up 2%) and Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop 27% (up 1%). This is the lowest level of support for Abbott since assuming the leadership of the Liberal Party in December 2009.
“Even amongst L-NP supporters – who have traditionally favoured Abbott over both Turnbull and Bishop – Turnbull has now gained the most support as the preferred Liberal Party Leader 30% (up 4%) equally ahead of both Abbott 25% (down 5%) and Bishop 25% (down 3%).
“Worryingly for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten he has now slipped behind Deputy ALP Leader Tanya Plibersek as the preferred ALP Leader with Plibersek 23% (up 5%) cf. Shorten 21% (down 4%). This is the first time Plibersek has been preferred to Shorten since he became ALP Leader after the last Federal Election. Both are well clear of former leadership rival Anthony Albanese 13% (up 3%) and former Treasurer Wayne Swan 10% (unchanged). However, whilst Abbott can be voted out of the leadership by the Liberal Party room – Shorten can’t be removed before the next election given the new rules surrounding a change of leadership adopted by the Federal ALP.
