Poll provides glimpse of election footing

^{BY JAMES JAMESONSON (}[^{[email protected]}](mailto:[email protected]))

THE LATEST Newspoll released yesterday evening provides Australia with a glimpse of how the upcoming election could play out - with the government losing steam to the opposition.

The poll showed support for the governing Greens, Country and Sensible Team all decreased, dropping 2.2%, 2% and 0.2% respectively. On two-party-preferred terms, the government lost 3.2%, coming in at 56.4% against the opposition.

Meanwhile, the opposition Australian Labor Party saw a 1.1% rise, the Commonwealth Party gained a respectable 3.2% and the Liberal Democrats increased by 0.7%.

Speaking to the National Review, ALP Senate leader u/dyljam said the poll was 'welcome' but that a great deal of effort would be required to overturn the government.

'We are very much the underdogs going into this election, but we are optimistic and we are energetic.'

'It has not been an uncommon occurrence for a government to go into an election leading in the opinion polls, and then to fall short on the seat tally.'

The opposition senate leader also pointed to state variations, which he said meant that nationwide opinion polling did not 'show the true picture'.

'Although the government's budget failed, Australians saw what the Greens, Country and Sensible Team political parties stand for, and many of them did not like it,' he said.

The poll also indicates that if an election were held today, the government would suffer from a notable loss of seats.

If replicated at the ballot box, the Greens political party would lose three seats, the Country party would lose one, while the Sensible Team would gain one seat.

For the opposition and crossbench, the ALP would gain one seat, and the Commonwealth Party and Liberal Democrats would gain two seats each.

This would lead the Greens, Country and Sensible Team political parties with a one seat majority.

'It will be an interesting election,' said u/dyljam.

'But it's clear that the electorate wants change, and if that doesn't happen, I think there's going to be a lot of unhappy, hard-working Australians out there.' NR