Aussie PM’s support falls to new lows amid citizenship crisis
He’s probably had one of the fastest falls in personal standing in our history.
MELBOURNE: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slumped to a new low in a poll released yesterday as his government cobbled together a deal with the main opposition party to stem a citizenship crisis that has left his government hanging precariously to power.
Turnbull has been heavily criticised for failing to act decisively in a crisis that has so far seen his deputy, along with six other lawmakers, ejected from parliament because they were dual citizens, leaving Turnbull presiding over a minority government.
In the latest twist in a drama that has played out over several months, independent lawmakers threatened over the weekend to use their new- found power in the lower house to push through controversial legislation that has been blocked by the government, including a Royal Commission into the banking sector.
The latest Newspoll, published by The Australian, showed the main opposition Labor Party leading Turnbull’s LiberalNational party coalition on a two-party basis, marking a 23rd consecutive loss since Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott to become prime minister in September 2015. Turnbull, then riding high in the polls, cited the fact that Abbott lost 30 consecutive Newspolls to justify the spill.
On a personal basis, Turnbull’s support crumbled from 41 per cent to 36 per cent.
At the time of becoming prime minister, his support was at an all-time high of 55 per cent.
“He’s probably had one of the fastest falls in personal standing in our history,” former Liberal Party leader John Hewson told Australian Broadcasting Corp television.
“And worse still, no outcomes that really matter to the average voter.”
The citizenship saga has overshadowed Turnbull’s attempts to turn the domestic agenda to voter- friendly issues like tax reform, infrastructure and housing affordability. A contentious national survey on same- sex marriage and a chequered rollout of a multibillion dollar broadband network have added to perceptions of chaos in the country’s leadership.
With Turnbull in Vietnam for a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders, his foreign minister and acting prime minister Julie Bishop told reporters the polls were ‘not surprising’ and the government had a plan to resolve the dual citizenship issue.
Dual citizenship is banned for members of parliament under Australia’s constitution in a bid to prevent split allegiances. But adherence to that rule has only come under the spotlight in the current crisis, with the High Court confirming a strict interpretation of the law.
With both sides of politics threatening to out lawmakers from the other side as dual citizens, the government and opposition agreed yesterday to a deadline of Dec 1 for all politicians to disclose the birthplace of their parents and grandparents.
John Hewson, former Liberal Party leader