Voters turning toward fringes

SCOTT Morrison’s re-election chances are on shaky ground as Australian voters turn away from the major political parties and towards fringe groups and independents.

The latest Newspoll shows support for political parties that fit in the “other” category – excluding the Greens or One Nation – has reached its highest level in four years.

Thirteen per cent of Australian voters now say they would vote for a smaller party such as the United Australia Party or an independent.

But the Morrison government has not fared so well.

The two-party-preferred vote remains in the opposition’s favour, with 53 per cent saying they would vote for Labor at the next election and 47 per cent indicating they would support the Coalition.

Mr Morrison’s party would expect to lose six to 10 seats if this kind of vote was replicated at the next election.

But it’s not all bad news for Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Forty eight per cent of Aussies are satisfied with his leadership and 49 per cent are dissatisfied. And despite the Coalition’s plummeting popularity, voters still prefer Mr Morrison over Anthony Albanese as the nation’s leader.