Nat Barr has rejected Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s insistence that he does not pay attention to the polls, as new figures show Labour’s popularity is plummeting.
During a combative interview on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program on Monday morning, Mr Barr brandished a copy of The Australian newspaper to show Ms Plibersek a headline about the Newspoll shock that put the Coalition ahead of the Labor Party.
‘Tanya, don’t say you don’t listen to the polls. I know you all do your own surveys. What do you think of this morning? -Barr asked.
Ms Pilbersek responded: ‘What I keep saying also is that we are not focused on the polls. “What we focus on is the cost of living for ordinary Australians.”
But Barr was not impressed with this response.
‘When you wake up and see a front-page headline, “Coalition wins for first time since election,” it’s a Newspoll, a credible poll, are you telling me that none of you sit there and say, “Okay?” ?” ‘We’re in trouble here, isn’t that good news?’ -Barr asked.
‘Or do you just say, “Yes, we’re focused and doing the right thing”?’
‘We are focused, we are doing the right thing. It’s a very close poll…’ Ms Plibersek said before Barr interrupted her.
‘So you’re not worried?’ Barr asked again.
“What I would say is that as the election gets closer, people will remember what it was like to have a Liberal government,” Ms Plibersek responded.
“They will remember Robodebt, they will remember secret ministries, they will remember sports, they will remember parking, they will remember what it is to have a Liberal government.”
Sunrise interviewer Nat Barr (pictured center) criticized politicians Tanya Plibersek (pictured left) and Barnaby Joyce (pictured right) over how much attention they paid to opinion polls.
Barr then directed his questioning to National MP Barnaby Joyce, who was also on screen.
‘Barnaby, we’re coming to you. They don’t like them much anymore,” Barr said.
Mr. Joyce ignored the blow.
‘Well, the thing is, of course, we look at the polls. “Tanya looks at the polls, I look at the polls,” he said.
‘Do you guys make yours too, Barnaby?’ -Barr asked.
“We do our thing.”
‘So, both parties do their own polls. When you say, “We don’t listen to the polls,” right? -Barr asked.
‘Of course. I do it, absolutely, 100 percent. If you say no, people will think you are not being honest with them.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured left) is still behind Anthony Albanese (pictured right) as preferred prime minister.
“What’s happening, the biggest problem with the Labor Party is the trend, and the trend has been down all the time.”
Joyce went on to list the reasons why he thought Labor was losing support before Barr interrupted him.
‘For your part, Barnaby, is it a problem when you look at the “best Prime Minister”? “Albanese is still 45, Dutton is still 37,” Barr said.
‘Do you have a problem with Dutton? Isn’t that good enough for you?’
‘Generally, the Prime Minister will always lead the Leader of the Opposition in that case. “It’s because he has the responsibility, the Prime Minister has the biggest microphone and it will always be there,” Mr Joyce replied.
‘The issue to consider is the underlying survey. I have always told my colleagues: “The Labor Party is a one-term government.”
Joyce spoke about the historical rarity of one-term governments before Barr interrupted him once again.
“Do you really think you can get the majority, Barnaby?” Barr asked.
‘I don’t know. “I think Mr Albanese is making a big bet on forming a one-term government,” Mr Joyce responded.
‘He has lost connection with people. I don’t know if… I think a hung parliament is the number one horse in this race right now.’
Monday’s Newspoll polled 1,258 voters nationally last week and found the Coalition has outperformed Labor by a 51-49 lead on a two-party preference basis.
It is the first time that Labor has fallen behind the Opposition since the 2022 election in Newspolls, which is largely considered the most authoritative opinion poll on voting intentions.
Albanese still has a 45-37 lead over Dutton on who would be the best premiership.
However, Albanese’s net approval rating fell to the lowest level since he became Prime Minister, falling to -14 to reach the level of opposition leader Peter Dutton.