Federal Govt slides in polls
From AAP
04feb02
SUPPORT has slipped for the federal government, with the latest Morgan poll putting the opposition ahead by five points on a two-party preferred basis.
The poll was taken immediately after the South Australian state election was called, and covered the period when detainees at the Woomera detention centre went on a hunger strike and sewed their lips together.
It also took in the resignation of key immigration adviser Neville Roach over the government's handling of the detainee issue.
The poll found support for the government down three points, giving Labor a five point lead on a two-party preferred basis.
Support for the Liberal Party dropped three points to 38 per cent, while t
he National Party remained unchanged at 2.5 per cent.
Labor's support remained unchanged at 39.5 per cent, while the Australian Democrats were up two point to 7.5 per cent and the Greens down half a point to 6.5 per cent.
On a two party-preferred basis, Labor sat on 52.5 per cent compared to the government's 47.5 per cent.
The poll showed Labor clearly in front in NSW, Victoria and West Australia, even with the government in Queensland and Tasmania, and behind in South Australia.
At the federal election, the government gained 51 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote compared to Labor's 49 per cent.
The latest Newspoll, conducted in late January, put the government well in front of Labor, actually improving on the vote it achieved at the November 11 poll.
A Morgan poll at the same time, which found the government and Labor even at 50 per cent apiece, also revealed strong support for Prime Minister John Howard and his asylum seeker policies.