Liberal frontbencher calls for party ‘rebrand’ after drop in polls, prompting ridicule from Labor

Liberal frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has said the party might need a “rebrand” to win back voters who continue to desert the opposition, with the Coalition hitting a new historic polling low. Her comments came after the opposition leader, Angus Taylor , claimed the Morrison government – of which he was a senior minister – had “breached trust” with the electorate during the Covid pandemic by supporting “big government”. On Monday, he defended himself against criticisms, telling 2GB radio: “You can’t turn around a tanker in a few months.” More than four months on from rolling Sussan Ley amid dwindling polling numbers, Taylor’s leadership has seen the Coalition’s slide continue. The Coalition’s primary vote dropped to 17% in Monday’s Newspoll – well behind Labor (33%) and One Nation (29%), and barely above the Greens (13%). A separate poll, from Redbridge research and released on Monday, also found rising support for Labor amid a dip in support for One Nation and the Coalition. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Taylor’s leadership is not under imminent threat , but after a series of underwhelming performances , Liberal MPs have quietly begun discussing their concerns about the party’s direction. McIntosh, the shadow minister for the NDIS, said the party needed something fresh. “I think it’s time for the Liberal party to rebrand itself,” she said on Sky News. …