Scott Morrison’s approval rating has jumped following weeks of nonstop campaigning with his ‘secret weapon’ wife Jenny, however Labor remains steadfastly in the lead.
The ALP’s primary vote is at 41 per cent while the Coalition has lifted a point to 35 per cent according to a Newspoll conducted for The Australian.
The Prime Minister’s approval rate has risen three points to 43 per cent with dissatisfaction with his performance dropping to 55 per cent.
The leaders are separated by just two points, with Mr Albanese’s approval rating rising two points to 40 per cent – as the gap continues to narrow pre-election.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese (pictured) has also seen a jump in his approval rating from 40 to 44 per cent while his disapproval levels fell three points to 43 per cent
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has also seen a jump in his approval rating from 40 to 44 per cent while his disapproval levels fell three points to 43 per cent.
A previous Newspoll on February 13 put Labor a massive 10 points ahead by 55 to 45 on a two-party basis with the ALP maintaining this lead.
A week later, an Essential poll for Guardian Australia revealed the ALP was on 49 per cent and the Coalition on 45 per cent on a two party basis.
Despite this, Mr Morrison – who hit the campaign trail with his ‘secret weapon’ wife Jenny this week – is still Australia’s preferred Prime Minister.
The latest Newspoll shows the public’s preferences for a leader remains the same, with a two-party-preferred split of 55-45 per cent in the ALP’s favour.
A pre-poll campaign blitz continues for both leaders who recently announced a bipartisan position to Australia’s response to the invasion of Ukraine.
‘Russia must pay a heavy price,’ Mr Morrison told reporters after attending a service at the St Andrews Ukrainian Church in Lidcombe on Sunday.
‘We will continue to add to that price as we consider every single option that is in front of us. I’ve taken nothing off the table.’
Mr Morrison (pictured) – who hit the campaign trail with his ‘secret weapon’ wife Jenny this week – is still Australia’s preferred Prime Minister
He said Australia is already providing significant support in terms of non-lethal aid but would fund weapon supply through NATO.
The PM told the congregation Australia wouldn’t seek a ‘peace in Ukraine that is based on bending the knee to an autocrat and a thug’.
‘We seek a peace that is the sovereignty of Ukraine. That is what peace is for and that is what the world community demands,’ he said.
He reassured Ukrainian communities that visas were being processed as a priority as the situation worsened in Kyiv where Russian forces were renewing their assault.
The PM’s condemnation of Russia’s invasion comes after weeks of campaigning with wife Jenny by his side, in an attempt to win-over the people of Australia.
In an interview with 60 Minutes, Mr Morrison was seen in the kitchen, playing the ukulele for his family and cracking jokes with the Today Show’s Karl Stefanovic.
The clips have circulated on social media with viewers divided over whether the PM’s attempts at appearing relatable were cringe-worthy or convincing.
Mr Albanese (pictured in Tasmania last week) has criticised the attempts of his counterpart to win the publics’ favour through a series of TV and live appearances.
The PM also visited a salon in Melbourne where he massaged an apprentice’s head – which was later slammed as a ‘sad stunt’ by conservative columnist Andrew Bolt.
Mr Albanese has criticised the attempts of his counterpart to win the publics’ favour through a series of TV and live appearances.
‘This Prime Minister seems to be more interested in stunts than he is in doing his day job,’ he said while campaigning in the Tasmanian marginal seat of Bass.
‘I notice on the issue of the rather bizarre welding exercise… that he said, well, it’s not his day job.
‘I say to the Prime Minister, do your day job, forget about the photo ops and the shampooing people’s hair, and driving motor cars, and the welding, and indeed, maybe even the ukelele playing, if he can give that a miss too, and do your day job.
‘Australians are facing challenges and they want someone to be on top of issues like aged care.’Labor is ready for government. We have done the hard policy work.
‘We have continued to critique the government, but we’ve put forward constructive alternatives going forward.’
Asked about the welding blunder on 2GB, Mr Morrison (pictured with wife Jenny) said: ‘This was a pretty tricky little device I was trying to use. I hadn’t used that one before’
Asked about the welding blunder on Sydney’s Radio 2GB, Mr Morrison said: ‘This was a pretty tricky little device I was trying to use. I hadn’t used that one before.’
‘So if people want to have a chip at me because I’m not a good welder, well, that’s not my day job,’ he said.
‘And if all the narcs in the bubble want to have a crack at me, well, they can. But what I’m doing is showcasing the great work of our apprentices and small businesses.’
The PM last week said the shutting down of rail services in NSW on Monday showed what would happen under a federal Labor government.
‘If people want to hand the country to unions under a Labor government led by the most left-wing Labor leader in 50 years… this is what they can expect,’ he said.
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