Extract from The Guardian
Shorten leads Morrison as preferred PM while Coalition’s primary vote falls to 33%
The fortnight of vicious civil war within the Liberal party that delivered the prime ministership to Scott Morrison has precipitated a poll crash for the government, with Labor pulling ahead by 12 points.
The latest Newspoll, published by the the Australian on Sunday night, has Labor ahead on the two-party-preferred measure 56% to 44%, compared with 51% to 49% before the fortnight of bloodletting.
The Coalition’s primary vote dropped four points to 33%, with Labor on 41%.
Bill Shorten is also ahead of Morrison as preferred prime minister. Morrison is on 33%, an 11-point dive from Malcolm Turnbull’s last result before he was deposed, and the Labor leader is on 39%, a seven-point gain.
Morrison worked at the weekend to stabilise the government after the anguish and recrimination triggered by two bitterly contested leadership spills within a week.
Peter Dutton’s failed push to seize the Liberal party leadership cost the government both Turnbull and his deputy, Julie Bishop – the Coalition’s two most popular figures.
Turnbull will also quit the parliament, triggering a byelection in his Sydney seat of Wentworth, which increases the stress for the new leader in managing the parliament. The government has a majority of one in the House of Representatives.
The Victorian MP Josh Frydenberg won last week’s ballot to be the party’s new deputy leader, and Morrison appointed him treasurer last Friday.
Morrison moved on Sunday to reboot his ministry, keeping Dutton and the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, in the cabinet despite their front-and-centre roles in bringing down Turnbull.
He banished two of the plotters, Michael Sukkar and James McGrath, but elevated some others, particularly Angus Taylor and Alan Tudge, who have been tasked with politically sensitive responsibilities, Taylor in energy and Tudge developing a population policy.
Dutton stays in home affairs but loses immigration to David Coleman, which could point to Morrison wanting to project a more inclusive posture in immigration, or suggest concern about Dutton’s constitutional issues.
Bishop confirmed on Sunday she would quit the foreign affairs portfolio and go to the backbench. She recommended that Marise Payne, the defence minister, replace her – a recommendation Morrison accepted.
The prime minister also used the reshuffle to split the energy and environment portfolios, sending a signal that the government will abandon the national energy guarantee rather than leaving it on ice.
Morrison offered an envoy post to the former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, with a focus on drought, and suggested Tony Abbott would be in the running for a similar role in the event he wanted to play a “constructive” role in the government.
The new prime minister told reporters on Sunday his objectives were to keep the economy strong, keep Australians safe and keep Australians “together”.
He said there was a combination of stability and renewal in the ministerial reboot. As a newly installed prime minister, he wanted “new perspectives” and “fresh energy”.
Morrison said the government was now in the process of healing the divisions that led to the rolling crisis of the past fortnight.
He will be in Queensland on Monday touring drought-impacted regions. He will also proceed with a trip to Jakarta later this week.
The latest Newspoll, published by the the Australian on Sunday night, has Labor ahead on the two-party-preferred measure 56% to 44%, compared with 51% to 49% before the fortnight of bloodletting.
The Coalition’s primary vote dropped four points to 33%, with Labor on 41%.
Bill Shorten is also ahead of Morrison as preferred prime minister. Morrison is on 33%, an 11-point dive from Malcolm Turnbull’s last result before he was deposed, and the Labor leader is on 39%, a seven-point gain.
Morrison worked at the weekend to stabilise the government after the anguish and recrimination triggered by two bitterly contested leadership spills within a week.
Peter Dutton’s failed push to seize the Liberal party leadership cost the government both Turnbull and his deputy, Julie Bishop – the Coalition’s two most popular figures.
Turnbull will also quit the parliament, triggering a byelection in his Sydney seat of Wentworth, which increases the stress for the new leader in managing the parliament. The government has a majority of one in the House of Representatives.
The Victorian MP Josh Frydenberg won last week’s ballot to be the party’s new deputy leader, and Morrison appointed him treasurer last Friday.
Morrison moved on Sunday to reboot his ministry, keeping Dutton and the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, in the cabinet despite their front-and-centre roles in bringing down Turnbull.
He banished two of the plotters, Michael Sukkar and James McGrath, but elevated some others, particularly Angus Taylor and Alan Tudge, who have been tasked with politically sensitive responsibilities, Taylor in energy and Tudge developing a population policy.
Dutton stays in home affairs but loses immigration to David Coleman, which could point to Morrison wanting to project a more inclusive posture in immigration, or suggest concern about Dutton’s constitutional issues.
Bishop confirmed on Sunday she would quit the foreign affairs portfolio and go to the backbench. She recommended that Marise Payne, the defence minister, replace her – a recommendation Morrison accepted.
The prime minister also used the reshuffle to split the energy and environment portfolios, sending a signal that the government will abandon the national energy guarantee rather than leaving it on ice.
Morrison offered an envoy post to the former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, with a focus on drought, and suggested Tony Abbott would be in the running for a similar role in the event he wanted to play a “constructive” role in the government.
The new prime minister told reporters on Sunday his objectives were to keep the economy strong, keep Australians safe and keep Australians “together”.
He said there was a combination of stability and renewal in the ministerial reboot. As a newly installed prime minister, he wanted “new perspectives” and “fresh energy”.
Morrison said the government was now in the process of healing the divisions that led to the rolling crisis of the past fortnight.
He will be in Queensland on Monday touring drought-impacted regions. He will also proceed with a trip to Jakarta later this week.
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