Labor's primary vote slips in latest polling

QUESTION TIME

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese listens to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in question time (AAP) Source: AAP / LUKAS COCH/AAPIMAGE

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The federal government is less than a week out from its first electoral test of the year, the Dunkley by-election, with its revamped Stage Three tax cuts at the centre of it.


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TRANSCRIPT

Tradespeople working in Parliament House in Canberra have taken a stand - protesting their pay.

 "What do we want? FAIR PAY! When do we want it, now!"

The Electrical Trades Union says some of the staff at Parliament House are paid around $30,000 less than the industry standard.


As politicians gather in the nationals capital, National Party M-P Barnaby Joyce has been taking some time off after a video surfaced of him laying on a footpath after a night of drinking.

It's something Mr Joyce says was a result of mixing medication with alcohol.

National Party leader David Littleproud says he's happy Mr Joyce is taking a break.

"He's notified me he's not coming to Parliament, he's having the week off which we gave him the opportunity to do with his family. I respect that. I hope he went to church yesterday and all he had was altar wine."

It comes as the Coalition has been forced to accept the Labor Party changes to so-called stage the tax cuts.

Opposition spokeswoman for Finance, Jane Hume, says that doesn't mean they support the way Labor has done things.

 "The coalition support for a tax cut should never be read as an endorsement of Labor's breach of faith. We will continue to hold this government to account for the commitments they have made but we know they're planning to back out of. The Treasurer said negative gearing is not something we're proposing, that sounds familiar doesn't it?"

While there appears to be broad public support for the changes, the by-election in he Melbourne seat of Dunkley is expected to be the first real test.

 The latest Resolve poll puts the Coalition’s primary vote ahead of Labor's for first time since the election.

Although Anthony Albanese remains as preferred Prime Minister, in the latest NewsPoll, Labor’s primary vote fell to 33 per cent.

But Labor is still ahead on a two-party preferred basis with Anthony Albanese up one point as preferred Prime Minister.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt says he doesn't put too much value in polling.

 "When Labor is up on the polls I say we don't really worry about polls and I have the same view today. We'll see what happens in Dunkley on the weekend. We know it's a difficult race, by-elections are always difficult for incumbent governments. So we are expecting there to be a swing against the government but as long as we hang on and build on the fabulous legacy of Peta Murphy with a terrific new candidate then that will be a terrific outcome from our point of view."

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says he's hoping to narrow Labor's margin in Dunkley as the Coalition aims to make Labor the first one-term government since the Second World War.

Mr Dutton has been linking the cost of living crisis with what it see as Labor's weakness - border protection and migration.

Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley reiterating that message.

"Does the minister agree that Labor's policy of granting 500 visas in 1 year has contributed to the average weekly cost to rent a unit in Frankston $350 to $420 today."

Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather has also been criticising Labor - as its latest housing reforms aimed at first-home buyers stall.

 "The Greens want movement on capping rent increases, building public housing and scrapping the massive tax handouts for property investors, and unless Labor shifts on those three things, the Greens will vote against the Help to Buy legislation the lottery housing bill in the house this week."




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