Newspoll: Coalition still trailing Labor after leadership spill

Scott Morrison might be more popular than Bill Shorten in the latest Newspoll, but, on the key indicators, all it means is he’ll lead the coalition to a whopping defeat at the next election.

If the figures are replicated, his government would lose over 20 seats and be swept from office.

Mr Morrison leads Bill Shorten by 42 to 36 as preferred prime minister, but the coalition trails Labor by 34 to 42 in the primary vote.

After preferences, the opposition is stead on 56, and the government also unchanged on 44.

And that’s the result that counts.

It would mean Bill Shorten would be prime minister. And Scott Morrison opposition leader.

The preferred prime minister figure is a silver lining. But not much else.

Mr Morrison now has to convert that popular vote into wide electoral appeal for his government.

Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann, said the result “isn’t surprising”.

“It’s obviously early says,” Mr Cormann said.

“It shows the prime minister has had a good start. People are embracing our new prime minister.

“People want to see how things settle.”