Catastrophic new poll shows support for one major party has plummeted to 40-year-low
The latest Newspoll figures, published by The Australian, showed that the primary vote for the Coalition has dropped to just 29 per cent, falling even further from its record poor performance at the voting booths just a few months ago.
The Coalition has never recorded such a low proportion of the primary vote since Newspoll was established in 1985.
The primary vote for Labor is at 36 per cent, with the Greens and Independents steady and One Nation seeing a small uptick in support.
With the flow of preference votes factored in, Labor is ahead on a two-party preferred basis 57-43 per cent.
This is almost 2 per cent higher for Labor than at the election, however, it is a drop of more than 5 per cent for the LNP.
The majority of those surveyed said they preferred Anthony Albanese as Prime Minister at 52 per cent, while 32 per cent said they preferred Sussan Ley and 16 per cent were undecided.
Voter satisfaction with Albanese's performance in the nation's top job has seen a small lift but remains under the halfway mark at 47 per cent.
Labor secured an increased majority at the election and holds 94 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives.
The prime minister has urged MPs not to take their stint in Canberra for granted, as they gather in the capital ahead of the resumption of federal parliament.
MPs and senators were welcomed by Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House on Sunday as part of formalities before the official opening of the 48th parliament on Tuesday.
Speaking to federal MPs, the prime minister said those elected to parliament should not forget their responsibility to voters.
'It is such a privilege to sit either in the House of Representatives or the Senate. And something that none of us should ever take for granted,' he said on Sunday.
'We need to take that responsibility seriously as well, as I know all of you will. And overwhelmingly, regardless of who you represent, people put themselves forward for public office overwhelmingly for all of the right reasons, because they want to make a difference to this country.'
Mr Albanese said the make up of the next parliament was vastly different to that when he was first elected almost 30 years ago.
'In 1996, a lot of blokes from similar backgrounds made up most of the House of Representatives and the Senate,' he said.
'As I look out here today, we are far more representative of the people that we represent and that is a very good thing.'
The governor-general said Sunday's event was a chance for many to relax before parliament ramps up.
She said the gathering was also one of the only times she got to partake in a popular Australian tradition.
'It's the only time I get to have a democracy sausage in my term, because I have chosen not to vote over the period of my term,' she said.
'My job is above politics and I felt it was important that I not choose anyone during this time, so I don't get democracy sausages other than (at Government House).'
While Tuesday's opening of parliament will largely be ceremonial, the federal government has flagged it would use the opening days of the new term to implement election commitments.
Among them are laws to reduce HECS debts for university students by 20 per cent, increase safety measures for children in childcare, as well as legally protect penalty rates for workers.
About 40 politicians will enter parliament for the first time and will give their maiden speeches.
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