Support for both Labor and the Coalition has fallen as Australians are divided over energy policy and climate change, including proposals for nuclear power plants.
Primary voting for the main parties has taken a hit in recent weeks, with the Coalition down three points to 36 per cent, while support for Labor fell to 32 per cent after a one-point drop, according to the latest Newspoll poll. The Australian.
The two leaders, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, have also reached high levels of dissatisfaction among voters.
As a result, there has been a rise in support for the Greens and independents, which could indicate a similar political landscape when voters return to the polls next year.
When voters were asked who their choice for prime minister was, only a small margin separated the two leaders in the closest result since the 2022 election.
Mr Albanese recorded his second highest level of dissatisfaction since being elected, rising to 53 per cent, an increase of three per cent.
The prime minister’s approval rating fell one point to 42 percent.
Dutton’s approval rating also fell one point to 38 per cent, but his dissatisfaction rating soared above Albanese’s to 54 per cent, a five-point increase.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured) has divided voters over his nuclear power plans.
Anthony Albanese (pictured with partner Jodie Haydon) has been charged with undermining the safety of a nuclear power plant.
The poll also found that Dutton’s nuclear plan for seven regional sites across the country, which would retire coal-fired plants, had the support of 42 percent of voters.
But disapproval of the plan was 45 percent, while 13 percent were undecided.
On the issue of nuclear power, more men and older people supported Dutton’s plan, while women and young people were mostly against it and middle-aged people were divided.
The nuclear debate has sparked a partisan row, with the Albanian government accused of campaigning to scare Australians about the safety of nuclear power plants, even though it plans to have nuclear-powered submarines.
Falling support for the Coalition shows that the nuclear plan could cost them potential votes.
But declining support for the Labor Party also suggests that worse-than-expected inflation figures have also hit the government.