A recent Newspoll survey of 1,242 Australian voters reveals that the Labor Party's primary vote has fallen to 29 percent, a level not seen since the 2013 leadership contest in which Kevin Rudd replaced Julia Gillard. This marks a worrying trend for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with the latest data published on August 9, 2026.
Poll Results and Key Comparisons
The Newspoll, conducted between Monday and Friday of the previous week, also showed a decline in Albanese's personal net rating, which dropped to -22. In contrast, Opposition leader Angus Taylor's personal rating improved from -21 in July to -12. Despite these figures, Albanese maintained a lead in preferred prime minister polling, with 46 percent support compared to Pauline Hanson's 31 percent and Taylor's 23 percent.
When voters were asked to choose between Albanese and Hanson for prime minister, Albanese secured 56 percent of the vote, while Hanson received 44 percent.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation party achieved a primary vote of 29 percent, matching Labor's. The Coalition's primary vote was significantly lower at 18 percent, nearing its June low of 17 percent. The Greens saw a two-point increase in their primary vote, rising to 14 percent, while minor parties and independents collectively gained one point to reach 10 percent.
Political Landscape and Future Strategies
The dip in Labor's support follows the government's decision to reinstate the full fuel excise, which had been temporarily discounted following a fuel crisis in April. The opposition, led by Taylor, is expected to focus its attacks on Labor's tax policies, migration strategies, and perceived weaknesses in counter-terrorism and gambling laws.
Labor is reportedly preparing to finalize new policies aimed at lowering net migration targets, with student visas expected to be a significant focus. Concurrently, the Coalition plans to emphasize cost-of-living issues while reinforcing its policies on deregulation, immigration, and energy.
One Nation is slated to introduce a new counter-terrorism bill intended to prevent former ISIS fighters from returning to Australia. Parliament is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday after a five-week recess.
The poll's findings draw a historical parallel to 2013, when Labor's primary vote at 29 percent preceded a leadership challenge. In that instance, Rudd's move ultimately led to Gillard's ousting as leader. Gillard had similarly replaced Rudd in 2010.