Newspoll: Gap widens between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton on preferred leader

Anthony Albanese has widened the gap as the nation’s preferred leader over Peter Dutton, as a looming federal election look set to return a minority government, a Newspoll has revealed.

Ahead of what was firming as the first week of the election campaign before the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Alfred off of Queensland’s coast, the Newspoll shows both parties lifting a point on primary support.

Labor’s support grew to 32 per cent while the Coalition’s rose to 39 per cent, as the Greens and One Nation remained unchanged.

The change means the two party preferred split between the Coalition and Labor remains at 51 per cent to the Government’s 49 per cent, but suggests Australia is still on a path towards a minority government.

Mr Albanese also strengthened his lead over Mr Dutton as preferred prime minister, 47 per cent to 38 per cent, a net change in four points for the Labor leader, as he visited Queensland to assess damage from the ex-cyclone.

Voters also lacked confidence in Mr Dutton’s capacity to lead the country, with Australians split on his readiness, 45 per cent to those who thought the Opposition Leader was not able to be Prime Minister at 55 per cent.

The poll comes after wild speculation last week the Prime Minister would call an April 12 election in the aftermath of WA’s state poll. But Mr Albanese scuppered that plan amid the threat of the cyclone to Queensland and NSW.

It also followed Labor’s emphatic re-election in WA, where the Prime Minister said Labor would be “fighting very hard” to snag more seats at the federal election.

“This is an extraordinary result from someone who has transitioned to premier after Mark McGowan chose to step aside and has shown extraordinary leadership on behalf of West Australians,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.

“The result was outstanding. There was always going to be a drop from the quite frankly stratospheric result of the 2021 election.”