Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
A Liberal frontbencher has been grilled on the Coalition’s ability to function as a healthy opposition after a nosedive in the Liberals and Nationals’ popularity.
In the latest Newspoll, core support for the Coalition plunged to 17 per cent, one percentage point lower than when former opposition leader Sussan Ley was ousted by Angus Taylor in February.
Satisfaction with Mr Taylor also dropped to 31 per cent, with 51 per cent dissatisfied and 18 per cent uncommitted.
The results for preferred prime minister showed similarly dire findings, with Mr Taylor trailing at 20 per cent behind both Anthony Albanese (49 per cent) and Pauline Hanson (31 per cent).
The question of faltering trust with voters was put to shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash by Today host Sarah Abo, who pointed at what she described as the opposition’s inability to “actually get anything done”.
The remarks came during an on-air panel with Greens leader Larissa Waters after a discussion on Labor’s deal making, with the left-wing party to pass its tax overhaul, which the Coalition vehemently opposes.
“The Greens are getting things done, and you’re not, and this is because you guys simply can’t be trusted by the public,” Abo said.
“I mean, poll after poll, you are nosediving. Is Angus Taylor the next to go?”
In her response, Senator Cash deferred to the Coalition’s taxation and immigration proposals, branding them as part of the parties’ “credible and competent plan”.
“You can keep saying that until you’re blue in the face, Michaelia, it’s not cutting through,” Abo interrupted.
Senator Cash insisted there was a “long way to go” before the next federal election and said Mr Taylor was “absolutely” safe in his position as Liberal leader.
Liberals hit out at ‘rebrand’ claim
Prominent Liberals have rebuffed a colleague’s declaration that the party needs a “rebrand” amid the Coalition’s “diabolical” performance in the latest national polling.
Melissa McIntosh made the remarks this week during a Sky News Australia appearance, where she urged the Liberal Party to revisit its values in light of shrinking trust with voters.
On Tuesday, she conceded the statement was “blunt” but doubled down on the need to resonate with voters.
But opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam insisted voters were less concerned about branding “and more worried about what is on the inside”.
“Which is frankly, where we’ve got to be focused,” he said.
The party’s foreign affairs spokesman Ted O’Brien echoed the same sentiment, telling ABC Radio National: “I think what Melissa is getting at is right in that we need to communicate our plan.
“And that’s why, with all respect, I’m pushing back on some of these questions about wanting to talk polling and leadership.”
