Nat Barr gives Albanese government a tough reality check on Sunrise – as new figures show Labor’s popularity is plummeting

Nat Barr has slapped down environment minister Tanya Plibersek’s insistence she doesn’t pay attention to polls, as new figures show Labor’s popularity is plummeting.

During a combative interview on Channel Seven’s Sunrise on Monday morning, Barr brandished a copy of The Australian newspaper to show Ms Plibersek a headline about the shock Newspoll that put the Coalition ahead of Labor.

‘Tanya, don’t say you don’t listen to the polls. I know you all do your own polling. What do you think about this morning,’ Barr asked.

Ms Pilbersek responded: ‘What I continue to say as well is we’re not focused on the polls. What we’re focused on is the cost of living for ordinary Australians.’

But Barr was not impressed with this answer.

‘When you guys wake up and see a front-page headline, ‘Coalition ahead for the first time since the election’, it’s a Newspoll, a credible poll, are you telling me that none of you guys sit there and go, “OK, we’re in trouble here, it’s not good news”?’ Barr asked.

‘Or do you just go, “Yeah, we’re focused, doing the right thing”?’

‘We’re focused, we’re doing the right thing. It is a very close poll …’ Ms Plibersek said before Barr interrupted.

‘So, you are not worried?’ Barr asked again.

‘What I would say is as an election approaches, people will remember what it was like to have a Liberal government,’ Ms Plibersek replied.

‘They will remember Robodebt, they’ll remember secret ministries, they will remember sports rorts, they’ll remember car park rorts, they’ll remember what it’s like to have a Liberal government.’

Barr then directed her questioning at Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce who was also onscreen.

‘Barnaby, let’s go to you. They’re not liking you guys that much better,’ Barr said.

Mr Joyce ignored the jab.

‘Well, the thing is, of course we watch the polls. Tanya watches the polls, I watch the polls,’ he said. 

‘Do you guys do your own as well, Barnaby?’ Barr asked.

‘We do our own.’

‘So, both parties do their own polling. When you say, “we don’t listen to the polls”, that’s not right?’ Barr asked.

‘Of course we do. I do, absolutely, 100 per cent. If you say you don’t, people think you’re not being straight with them.

‘What’s happening, the bigger issue with the Labor party is the trend, and the trend has been down all the way along.’

Mr Joyce went on to list the reasons he thought Labor were losing support before Barr interrupted him. 

‘On your side, Barnaby, is it a problem when you look at the ‘better PM’? Albanese is still at 45, Dutton is still at 37,’ Barr said.

‘Do you have a problem with Dutton? Is he not good enough for you guys?’

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton (pictured left) still trails Anthony Albanese (pictured right) as preferred prime minister

‘Generally, the Prime Minister will always lead the Leader of the Opposition in that one. It’s because he has the mantle, the Prime Minister has the biggest microphone and will always be there,’ Mr Joyce replied. 

‘The issue you have to look at is the underlying poll. I’ve always said to my colleagues, “Labor is a one-term government”.’

Mr Joyce expounded on the historical rarity of one-term governments before Barr once more interrupted him. 

‘Do you really reckon you can get the majority, Barnaby?’ Barr asked

‘I don’t know. I reckon Albanese is giving it a red-hot go to be a one-term government,’ Mr Joyce replied.

‘He has lost connection with the people. I don’t know whether… I think a hung parliament is the number one horse in this race at the moment.’

Monday’s Newspoll surveyed 1258 voters nationally last week and found the Coalition has overtaken the Labor Party with a 51-49 lead on a two-party preferred basis.

It’s the first time Labor has fallen behind the Opposition since the 2022 election in Newspolls, which are largely regarded as the most authoritative opinion poll of voting intentions.

Mr Albanese still has a 45-37 lead over Mr Dutton over who would be the better prime minister. 

However, Mr Albanese’s net approval rating fell to the lowest level since becoming Prime Minister, dropping to negative 14 to become level with Peter Dutton.