Labor minister Tanya Plibersek says government ‘not focused on polling’ as support sinks to near-record low

Labor has slumped to a near-record low primary vote of 27 per cent in the latest NewsPoll, putting the government just one point above its worst-ever result.

The figure is the lowest primary vote recorded by Labor under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and is a stark drop from the 37 per cent recorded in the same poll a year ago.

Albanese’s personal numbers have also fallen to a record low, with his net approval rating dropping to minus 27, around the same level as the worst figures recorded by former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd.

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek told Sunrise on Monday the government has acknowledged the poll numbers but would remain focused on delivering measures aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures.

“The polls are obviously not great, but we are not focused on the polling. What we’re focused on is making a real difference in people’s lives,” she said.

Plibersek said Australians are continuing to feel financial pressure, pointing to higher wages, tax cuts, cheaper medicines, bulk billing, housing and electricity as areas where the government is working to reduce costs.

“As a government, we need to focus on that and to keep doing everything we can to take that pressure off people. That’s why we’re helping them into a home of their own instead of paying rent.

“We need to be wholly focused on delivering for Australians, taking pressure off them, making sure that their wages are growing.”

One Nation held its position at 30 per cent in the poll, maintaining its lead as the highest-polling party on primary support.

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce brushed off the results, arguing the polling should not be treated as an election result.

“Polls are an indicator; they’re not a vote and we don’t get carried away with it ourselves. We believe that you just stay humble and keep trying to do the job,” he told Sunrise.

Joyce criticised the government’s approach to energy policy, arguing for greater use of coal-fired power and support for Australian industries.

“You can go out there with climate policy to change the clouds, or you can try and change the cost-of-living issues by bringing back baseload power,” he said.

Joyce also confirmed One Nation supports a cut to the fuel excise as petrol prices rise, but said the party would not nominate a figure at this stage.