Support for Australian PM Morrison hits 18-month low just months from election: Poll
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
Mr Scott Morrison's performance dropped to 44 per cent, the lowest level since March 2020.
PHOTO: AFP
CANBERRA (REUTERS) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's personal approval rating has fallen to its lowest level in 18 months, a widely watched poll showed on Monday (Nov 15).
A Newspoll conducted for The Australian newspaper showed that satisfaction with Mr Morrison's performance dropped to 44 per cent, the lowest level since March 2020 when he fielded criticism over his government's response to devastating bush fires.
The poll findings are a blow to Mr Morrison's hopes that easing Covid-19 restrictions and signs of a stronger economy will aid his re-election prospects when he returns to polls by May 2022.
While Australians have previously been frustrated with Mr Morrison's performance, he has always enjoyed a strong lead over his rival, Labor leader Anthony Albanese.
But denting his election prospects further, the latest Newspoll showed that Mr Morrison's lead over Mr Albanese as preferred prime minister was now down to its lowest level.
The Newspoll showed that Mr Morrison's Liberal-National Party coalition government continued to trail the opposition Labor on a two-party preferred basis by 47-53, unchanged from the previous poll earlier this month.
If the poll result were replicated at an election, the conservative government would lose office to centre-left Labor.
