1 week Ago By Ellen Ransley
Voters are turning their back on the federal Greens, new polling shows, with support for the minor party falling to its lowest level in nine months and leader Adam Bandt now ranked the third most unlikeable federal politician. The latest Resolve Political Monitor found voters were lukewarm or unconvinced on a number of the minor party’s major policy pitches, with 36 per cent of voters opposed to the Greens’ ban on new coal and gas project and 34 per cent undecided – compared to 30 per cent support. Voters also marked down the minor party’s pitches to phase out negative gearing and capital gains tax (37 per cent support), and immediately recognise Palestinian statehood (28 per cent support).
The survey, for the Nine Newspapers, found the Greens’ net likeability rating had fallen to minus 19 percentage points, a significant backwards slide from its minus 1 at the last federal election. Mr Bandt’s net likeability reached minus 15 percentage points, putting him third behind independent senator Lidia Thorpe (minus 40 percentage points) and One Nation leader Pauling Hanson (minus 23 percentage points) as the most “unlikeable” politician. Ellen Ransley Ellen Ransley Only 10 per cent of voters had a positive view of Mr Bandt, the poll found.
A further 26 per cent had a negative view, 26 per cent felt neutral, and 38 per cent were unfamiliar with him. The party’s housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather had a likeability rating of minus 3. Comparatively, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has a rating of minus 10, and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has a score of minus 1.
But the party is unlikely to let the poor polling get to them as they look to build momentum for the next election. The Greens are looking to expand its seat count at the next election – due by May – and have seats in Melbourne, Perth and northern NSW in its sights. The survey showed the party’s bid to expand Medicare funding so GP, dentist, psychologist and nurse visits was popular, pulling in 73 per cent total support, while a freeze and cap on all rent increases was supported by 52 per cent of respondents.
Labor minister Amanda Rishworth said the polling showed that voters were getting frustrated about the Greens’ negativity. “When I’m talking to people about their frustration with the Greens and indeed the Liberal Party, it’s the negativity, it’s the warning to block constantly the really important measures that we want to put in place to address housing supply,” she told breakfast TV. “People shrug their shoulders and don’t understand why the Greens and the Liberal Party are voting together to block our housing bill.
” Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said Australians “don’t appreciate extreme views”. Mr Bandt’s office was contacted for comment..
