Source : Perth Now news
Dire polling showing an increasingly on-the-nose state government would be smashed at an upcoming election could reignite party rumblings to remove its deeply unpopular premier.
Victorian Labor’s primary vote has slumped to 23 per cent, compared to the coalition’s 27 per cent, while a surging One Nation shot to 25 per cent, according to a Freshwater Strategy poll conducted for the Herald Sun.
If replicated at the November state election, the 12-year-old Labor government would be turfed from elected office, as it trails the coalition 47 to 53 on a two-party-preferred basis.
Respondents believe it is time for Premier Jacinta Allan to move on, according to the pollster, but the coalition would still need to pick up 16 seats required to form majority government.
Ms Allan’s personal popularity has sunk lower, dropping five points for a net favourability rating of minus 37 points and trails far behind Liberal leader Jess Wilson who has a positive net rating of 15.
Only 25 per cent of respondents felt she would make a better premier compared to 49 per cent who think Ms Wilson will do a better job.
Over 60 per cent of respondents said Ms Allan should be replaced ahead of the election, including 39 per cent of Labor voters, but a majority within her party continues to back her.
The dire poll numbers five months out from the state election could spur Labor leadership rumblings into overdrive.
Ms Allan previously said she was confident she would survive as premier until Victorians head to the polls in November, labelling ructions in March as chatter coming from “scallywags out there that might need a bit of a cuddle”.
Only last week did the chatter chirp up again, and any move against her could happen by next week during the final parliamentary sitting before the winter break.
Health Minister Harriet Shing on Sunday hosed down any suggestions conversations were occurring within the party for leadership change.
Deputy Premier Ben Carroll from Labor’s Right and Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams from Ms Allan’s Socialist Left faction have been viewed as possible replacements.
