Opposition leader Daniel Andrews and Premier Denis Napthine.
Labor has its biggest two-party-preferred lead since 2008: Opposition leader Daniel Andrews and Premier Denis Napthine. Photo: Wayne Taylor







Labor has extended a crushing lead over the Napthine
government as fallout from the federal budget, ongoing chaos in the
Parliament and internal Liberal Party ructions continue to erode the
Coalition’s re-election hopes.



Five months from the November 29 state election, an
Age/Nielsen poll reveals the state government failed to gain political
traction from the May budget, despite a $27 billion major projects
agenda.




The poll of 1000 Victorians reveals the Coalition is now
deeply mired, trailing Labor 41 per cent to 59 per cent in two-party
preferred terms based on voters' intended preference allocations.




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If an election where held now the Coalition would lose,
becoming Victoria’s first single-term government since 1955, with the
loss of up to 16 seats under new electoral boundaries, assuming a
uniform 11 per cent swing since the November 2010 election.



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Even using a more conservative two-party-preferred measure
based on preference flows at the 2010 election, the Coalition is in
strife, according to the poll – trailing Labor 44 per cent to 56 per
cent.



The result comes amid a growing sense of panic within
government ranks after months of controversy – the latest involving a
leaked recording of former premier Ted Baillieu criticising colleagues.



Party sources are now warning that right-wing Liberal
“jihadists” are seeking to undermine the government in an attempt to
seize control of the party and its agenda following the November 29
election.



Premier Denis Napthine on Wednesday insisted the government
was united and focused on delivering results for the people of Victoria,
saying he “totally disagreed” with claims the party was in danger of
being hijacked.



“This is of interest to the media, but the general public …
want us to get on with governing for the people of Victoria,” Dr
Napthine said.



The Coalition’s primary vote has fallen from 41 per cent to
37 per cent, with Labor on 42 per cent and the Greens on 14 per cent.



The poll confirmed the deep cuts inflicted by the Abbott
government’s first budget and Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s unpopularity
in Victoria have significantly damaged the state government’s
re-election chances.



Almost four in 10 voters, 39 per cent, said they were less
likely to vote for the Coalition at the state election because of the
federal budget, with only 5 per cent stating they were more likely.



And despite the state government’s big-spending
infrastructure agenda – which now includes both sections of the East
West Link, a new train tunnel to boost capacity on the rail network, an
airport rail link and level crossing upgrades – the state budget appears
to have had little positive impact.



Only 4 per cent of voters said they were more likely to vote
for the Coalition because of the state budget, with 29 per cent saying
they were less likely and 65 per cent stating it would make no
difference.



Although Dr Napthine remains relatively popular, the
Premier’s approval rating fell 3 percentage points to 48 per cent, while
his disapproval rating leapt 5 percentage points to 37 per cent.



Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews' approval rating remained
steady at 41 per cent, with his disapproval rating down slightly to 36
per cent.



But the poll revealed Mr Andrews is now closing the gap as
preferred premier, with Dr Napthine leading by 41 per cent to 40 per
cent.



Nielsen pollster John Stirton said it was Labor’s biggest two-party preferred lead in Victoria since February 2008.