By Zac de Silva in Canberra
Weeks of infighting have taken a toll on the former coalition partners as Pauline Hanson’s One Nation soars to new heights of popularity.
The primary vote for the Liberals and Nationals, whose alliance ended dramatically in mid-January, has plunged seven points to 19 per cent according to fresh polling.
The drop in support is likely to heap more pressure on Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who is fighting for her job ahead of a possible challenge as soon as the coming week.
According to the RedBridge poll published on Monday, 26 per cent of Australians would put One Nation first on their ballot paper if an election were held today – a nine-point increase in the right-wing party’s primary support.
In contrast, backing for the Liberal and National parties dropped to a combined 19 per cent, down seven percentage points on the figure recorded in December.
Labor led the poll with 34 per cent of the primary vote.
Ms Ley’s favourability rating fell to 10 per cent – lower than the figures recorded for her conservative rivals for the Liberal leadership, Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson scored highest in the poll with 38 per cent of respondents viewing her favourably, compared to 34 per cent for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
It is unclear whether the Liberals and Nationals could win back support from One Nation before the next election, RedBridge director and former Liberal strategist Tony Barry said.
“Is it a vote to empower One Nation to make change, or (are Australians) parking their vote there as a protest,” he told AAP.
“We’re not going to really know the answer to that until election night, but based on our focus groups, it’s looking more like empowerment.”
Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan blamed divisions within the now-former coalition for the poor showing.
“Everyone knows in politics that disunity is death and the Australian people will never, ever say that if you are divided … you’re ready to govern this nation,” he told reporters.
Liberal senator Jane Hume said Australians were turning to One Nation because they felt aggrieved.
“Unless the coalition, and specifically the Liberal Party, can turn around its message and deliver what Australians are looking for, which is a genuine alternative, then we deserve what we get,” she told Sky News.
The former minister urged colleagues to unite around Ms Ley as leader so they could deliver serious policies.
But speculation is rife that Mr Taylor, a conservative frontbencher from NSW, could soon launch a challenge.
Fellow right-wing MP Andrew Hastie ruled himself out of the race for the top job on Friday after a meeting between the two men and senior powerbrokers a day earlier.
Mr Taylor is unlikely to challenge Ms Ley in the current sitting week, but a leadership spill could be called in the following week’s party room meeting.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hit out at the opposition division during an address to the Labor caucus.
“You can’t fight for Australia if you’re obsessed by fighting each other and that is what we are seeing on the other side,” he said.
“I note that Married at First Sight begins tonight, it’s a bit like that with the relationships on the other side, they’re going to end badly.”
Ms Ley has sought to shift the conversation away from her leadership struggles, announcing a plan to slash red tape and make businesses more productive.
Under the policy, Australia’s existing regulations would be audited to see where they can be cut back.
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