Labor continues to lead the coalition on a two-party preferred basis while Malcolm Turnbull is still preferred prime minister over Bill Shorten in the latest Newspoll.
Labor is ahead of the coalition 52 per cent to 48 on a two-party basis but the primary vote for the two sides is unchanged on 38 per cent.
It is the 34th consecutive losing Newspoll for the government since Mr Turnbull took over the leadership from Tony Abbott almost three years ago.
Satisfaction with Mr Turnbull's performance has reached 40 per cent for the first time. Mr Shorten, who continues to lag as preferred PM, has seen his rating drop slightly.
The poll published in The Australian covered a period that heavily featured the scandal involving former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, who was criticised by some colleagues for conducting a paid interview about the birth of his son to former staffer Vikki Campion.
The Greens gained one point, with their primary vote sitting at 10 per cent.
The Newspoll also reveals One Nation has taken a hit in its primary vote - which fell from eight to six per cent - following a public spat between leader Pauline Hanson and Senator Brian Burston.
Senator Burston resigned this week over a dispute about company tax cuts after Ms Hanson publicly called on him to consider his position.
The party's Queensland leader Steve Dickson admitted the drama involving Senator Burston "impacted greatly".
But he insists One Nation is the only party pursuing issues like coal fired power stations and multinationals who don't pay tax.
"I think we'll get back into the game," he told Sky News on Sunday.
"Politics has a long way to go yet."
Share
