According to a recent Newspoll published in The Australian, the Coalition's primary vote has increased, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's approval rating has declined. The poll, conducted in early August 2026, shows the Coalition's primary vote at 38%, up two points from the previous poll, while Labor's primary vote fell to 32%.
Despite the dip in approval, Albanese still leads Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as preferred prime minister, with 52% to 34%. Albanese's net approval rating dropped to -8, with 47% dissatisfied and 39% satisfied with his performance.
The two-party preferred measure has the Coalition ahead of Labor, 51% to 49%, according to the poll. This marks a shift from earlier polls that had Labor leading.
Political analysts note that the swing reflects voter concerns over cost-of-living and housing affordability, issues that have dominated the political discourse in recent months.
