Nat Barr is giving Anthony Albanese’s government a harsh reality check as polls show support for him plummeting

A senior Labor Party minister has been given a blunt reality check as the latest polls show a fall in support for the party.

Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek faced some tough questions from Sunrise host Natalie Barr on Monday morning as support for Labor and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s approval ratings both fell sharply in the first Newspoll since the Voice to Parliament defeat -referendum.

When asked by Barr if she was concerned about the latest polls, Plibersek said “polls are jumping around” and the government was focused on their obligations to Australians.

‘The polls are jumping, but the Prime Minister is absolutely determined to do what he has promised.

“He promised a referendum, he did it, he promised cheaper childcare which he delivered, he promised cheaper medicine, we do that.

“We promised higher wages, we do, free TAFE, we do, we remain focused on what we promised to do,” she said.

Barr pointed out that support for the Labor Party was “declining in every respect.”

“Do you bring up things like this, though? I know you can’t say exactly, but do you sit there and say, “Wait a minute, guys, this is a concern, especially among Labor supporters, all the measures are disappearing”. Do you even mention it?’ Barr asked the minister.

‘No, what we’re focused on is making sure that we have a strong healthcare system, a strong education system, that we invest in the infrastructure that people need, housing, roads, the transition to renewable energy, the real business of government, that is what we do. what we’re talking about,” Plibersek replied.

National MP Barnaby Joyce was also on the programme, saying Plibersek was repeating pre-agreed party lines.

“There’s a place called the Prime Minister’s Office, and they said, ‘Tanya, these are lines you have to say, everything is great, and everything is beautiful, there’s nothing to see here.’

“Really, the truth is, people are lining up outside food banks to get free food.

“She bought up the energy transition that people hated, transmission lines and solar factories and energy prices going through the roof, reliability going down the drain, money going abroad. They’re off the ball.’

Mr Joyce also called the recent referendum on an indigenous voice in parliament an “absolute debacle”.

The coalition leads Labor in the primaries, 37 percent to 35 percent, according to the poll published in The Australian on Monday.

Anthony Albanese’s approval rating fell four points to 42 percent in the latest Newspoll

On a two-party preference basis, Labor leads the coalition 52 percent to 48 percent – ​​its weakest result since it won government in 2022.

The survey of 1,220 voters, conducted between October 30 and November 3, showed Albanese’s approval rating fell four points to 42 percent, while his dissatisfaction rating rose six points to 52 percent.

Albanians’ popularity as the country’s favorite prime minister also fell by five points to 46 percent, while Liberal leader Peter Dutton was at 36 percent.

Dutton’s performance as opposition leader saw a two-point rise to 37 percent of satisfied voters, while his 50 percent dissatisfaction rating was lower than the prime minister’s for the first time.