Two weeks after Scott Morrison was declared the victor in a poisonous three-way leadership contest that dispatched Malcolm Turnbull from the prime ministership, Labor is in an election-winning position similar to the vote the opposition commanded in 2007 when Kevin Rudd took government from John Howard.
Morrison is ahead of the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, as preferred prime minister 42% to Shorten’s 36%.
Wagga has turned on the New South Wales Liberal party. On Saturday the Berejiklian government lost a large chunk – nearly 30% – of formerly conservative voters.
NSW Premier is convinced the federal leadership coup played a major role and says politicians need to "get real" with a state election looming in March 2019.
Independent Joe McGirr is most likely to win the regional seat - which has been held by the Liberals for more than 60 years - following a swing against the NSW government of almost 30 per cent.
