Support for Anthony Albanese has plummeted following his muddled response to the Bondi attack, dragging the federal government's support to its weakest point in a year. The Resolve Political Monitor poll revealed a sharp decline in Labor's primary vote, falling 5 percentage points in a month to 30%, its lowest since February last year. The Coalition gained 2 percentage points to 28%, while One Nation's support surged to 18%, narrowing the two-party-preferred contest to 52-48 in Labor's favor. Albanese's net performance rating fell to minus 22, and his net likeability dropped to minus 15. Voters marked him down on leadership, competence, communication, and team performance. Albanese's response to the attack was criticized by over half of respondents, with 32% deeming it good and 13% undecided. The poll of 1800 voters, conducted between January 12 and 16, has a margin of error of 2.3 percentage points. The shift suggests protest votes and disaffection are being parked outside the major parties rather than consolidating behind the opposition. One Nation has gained significantly, taking votes from both Labor and the Coalition. The poll respondents cited the handling of the Bondi attack and the subsequent debate over a royal commission, alongside confusion around proposed gun law changes, as reasons for their dissatisfaction.
