Government consolidates gains

THE Morrison Government continues to trail Labor in the latest Newspoll but has held on to the gains it made over the Christmas break.

The ALP is ahead 53 to 47 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis — the same result as a fortnight ago — the latest poll for The Australian news- paper reveals. If an election were held now, the result would mean the Government would lose 14 seats on a uniform swing.

The result solidifies the Government’s improvement since the last Newspoll of 2018, which had Labor leading 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

It comes as MPs return to Canberra tonight for the first sitting week of the year, as the Government ramps up its attack on Labor over border protection.

In the latest Newspoll, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s approval ratings lifted with a three-point swing to 43 per cent, while there was a drop of two points in those dissatisfied with his performance to 45 per cent. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has suffered a two-point decline in his favourability rating and is on a net negative approval rating of minus 15. While the Coalition’s primary vote has not shifted, remaining on 37 per cent, Labor’s first-preference vote had risen a point to 39 per cent.

The poll was conducted over three days between last Thursday and yesterday.