Source : Perth Now news
Support for Labor is at the lowest point in more than a decade, dropping to a level last seen in the dying days of Julia Gillard’s prime ministership.
The party’s leadership faces a tough battle to revive its fortunes and also pass key legislation such as contentious gambling reforms and National Disability Insurance Scheme cuts on their return to Canberra after the winter break.
Primary support for the government dropped to 29 per cent in the latest Newspoll, published in the Australian on Monday, down from 33 per cent in June.
It was the lowest vote share for Labor since June 2013, not long before Kevin Rudd replaced Ms Gillard as prime minister in an ultimately futile attempt to win that year’s election.
The poll, conducted in the previous week, put Pauline Hanson’s One Nation on level pegging with Labor but also down one point from June.
The coalition continued to trail well behind on a near-record low of 18 per cent, while Labor led 58-42 per cent from the Liberal-National bloc on a two-party preferred basis.
Parliament returns on Tuesday as fierce negotiations continue over gambling legislation and the planned NDIS overhaul.
The Greens are urging Labor to negotiate with them on gambling legislation after a parliamentary inquiry that heard shocking allegations about problem gamblers being wooed with free bets, drugs and sex workers.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she was prepared to discuss a compromise on advertising through streaming services, but inducements should be banned.
Communications Minister Anika Wells previously said she was discussing a possible deal with both the coalition and the Greens to pass legislation that would restrict gambling ads on free-to-air television, among other measures.
The coalition has also criticised Labor’s proposal, saying the legislation required strengthening.
The government is separately hoping to bed down support for its proposed overhaul of the NDIS as an inquiry into the plans prepares to hand down its report on Friday.
Labor wants to kick 160,000 people off the scheme in a bid to stop it from growing further in cost, aiming to bank $38 billion in savings over the next four years.
NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said the government believed its reforms were reasonable and achievable.
“We think that they will put the scheme on a sustainable form that is there for people with disability in the future who need it and that’s what matters,” she said on Sunday.
Labor originally wanted to pass changes to the NDIS before the start of July, but it agreed to a delay as part of a deal with the Greens for support for its overhaul of taxes for investors.
