Primary support for Labor has dropped to its lowest polling level since Kevin Rudd rolled Julia Gillard as party leader in 2013.
A Newspoll for The Australian surveyed 1,242 voters across the country between Monday and Friday last week.
The results spelled disaster for Labor, which recorded a primary vote of just 29 per cent.
The latest data could ring alarm bells for Labor leader Anthony Albanese as the last time primary support in the poll dipped to that level was in mid 2013.
At that time, Rudd took advantage of the party’s drop in voter popularity to trigger a leadership contest to knife Gillard for the top position. She’d done the same to him three years earlier in 2010.
In the latest poll, Albanese’s own personal net rating dropped to -22.
The poor results follow on from the government reinstating the full fuel excise, which was subject to a temporary discount for millions of drivers following the fuel crisis in April triggered by conflict in the Middle East.
One Nation’s primary vote remained ahead of the Coalition’s at 29 per cent to the Opposition’s 18 per cent, near its record low of 17 per cent in June.
The primary vote for Anthony Albanese’s (above) Labor Party sank to 29 per cent, the same number as when Kevin Rudd stole party leadership from Julia Gillard in 2013
Pauline Hanson’s (above) One Nation recorded the same primary vote result, 29 per cent
Despite the poor party result, Opposition leader Angus Taylor’s personal rating has jumped from a low of -21 in July to -12 in the latest poll.
Pauline Hanson’s personal rating slipped three points in the same period from a neutral 0 to -3.
Albanese maintained his lead when voters were asked who they preferred as prime minister at 46 per cent.
Hanson ranked second at 31 per cent while Taylor came last at 23 per cent.
When the question was narrowed to just Albanese or Hanson as preferred prime minister, 56 per cent chose Albanese while 44 per cent backed Hanson.
Primary support for the Greens increased two points from 12 to 14 per cent.
Minor parties and independents also increased their primary vote, rising from 9 to 10 per cent.
Parliament is set to return on Tuesday following the five-week midwinter break.
Former Prime Minister and Australian Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd (pictured, left, with Anthony Albanese)
Support for the Opposition was low at 18 per cent, but party leader Angus Taylor’s (above) personal net rating improved 9 points to -12
Taylor and Hanson are expected to attack Labor’s taxes, migration policies and perceived weakness over counter-terrorism and gambling laws.
It’s understood Labor is a fortnight away from finalising its own new policies to lower net migration targets.
Student visas are expected to feature heavily in the debate.
Meanwhile, the Coalition is expected to try and gain ground over cost-of-living concerns.
It will also attempt to score points against both Labor and One Nation by strengthening its policies on deregulation, immigration and energy.
One Nation is set to push a new counter-terrorism bill, aimed at preventing former ISIS fighters from returning to Australia.
A number of so-called ISIS brides have returned to the country this year, while it was also recently revealed a male doctor who left Australia to fight with the barbaric group and was presumed killed was actually alive and trying to return to the country.
