Table of Contents
- Newspoll fallout, One Nation surge and shifting public attitudes
- Why the decline matters
- Why One Nation is gaining ground
- Can Sussan Ley recover?
- Retail theft: shifting attitudes amid cost-of-living pressures
- TikTok controversy: a father, his daughter and a social-media backlash
- What this discussion tells us
- FAQs
- Credit
Newspoll fallout, One Nation surge and shifting public attitudes
Sussan Ley's approval rating has slipped to -20 in the latest Newspoll, sparking fresh debate about leadership, party infighting and voter sentiment ahead of the next federal cycle. The 7NEWS debrief brought together commentators Jonathan Edwards from 5AAA and Billy Milovanovitch from the Wine Chats podcast to unpack what the numbers mean for the Coalition and for broader political trends in Australia.
Why the decline matters
The fall in Sussan Ley's approval is significant because it coincides with growing support for minor parties. Polling shifts like this can influence party strategy and media coverage, and they often reflect deeper dissatisfaction rather than a single issue.
Both commentators pointed to internal divisions within major parties as a major driver. Voters increasingly show frustration with public spats and inconsistent policy messaging, preferring politicians who appear to deliver practical solutions rather than partisan point-scoring.
Why One Nation is gaining ground
Jonathan Edwards argued that One Nation’s policies resonate with many working-class voters who feel overlooked by the major parties. He suggested that in pubs and community centres around the country, some policy positions put forward by One Nation find sympathy among people feeling the squeeze.
Edwards also highlighted the role of ongoing infighting among party leaders. “Everyone's sick of this infighting,” he said, and that sentiment appears to be driving a shift toward parties perceived as ‘different’ or willing to challenge the status quo.
Can Sussan Ley recover?
Billy Milovanovitch urged caution before writing Ley off. He noted Ley stepped into difficult circumstances following Peter Dutton’s leadership and is the party’s first female leader, which brings its own pressures.
Milovanovitch said Ley needs time to unite the party and “button down the hatches” while building a coherent forward agenda. The suggestion was clear: the leadership challenge is not only about approval numbers but also about internal cohesion and strategy.
Retail theft: shifting attitudes amid cost-of-living pressures
Separately, new research from Monash University reported that more than a quarter of Australian shoppers believe retail theft is justifiable to some degree. The panel described this as worrying but not wholly surprising given cost-of-living pressures.
Jonathan Edwards said visible theft in supermarkets and service stations signals deeper social strain and a perceived lack of consequences. He pointed to stretched police resources and the practical reluctance of retail staff to challenge offenders for relatively small-value items.
Billy stressed the particular vulnerability of small businesses, which face rising overheads and rely on every sale to survive. He suggested any sympathy for stealing from large corporate retailers does not justify theft from local shops and called for more community awareness about the real victims of retail crime.
TikTok controversy: a father, his daughter and a social-media backlash
The debrief also covered a widely shared TikTok in which a father allowed his 10-year-old daughter to buy crop tops and mesh clothing for her birthday. The clips drew strong criticism online, and the father defended his choice as encouraging his daughter’s creativity.
Commentators offered measured responses. Edwards said he felt for the father and suggested parenting choices sometimes end up under unfair scrutiny online. Milovanovitch agreed that children should be allowed some autonomy, but he emphasised teaching age-appropriateness and protecting young children from premature exposure to adult fashions.
“They will have their whole lives to wear those types of clothing. For the moment, while they're still young, best to keep those clothes indoors,”
What this discussion tells us
The Newspoll result and the wider conversation on 7NEWS highlight a few clear trends: electorate frustration with political infighting, the appeal of alternatives who speak to everyday economic concerns, and a society negotiating boundaries around acceptable behaviour both in public and online.
For Sussan Ley, the immediate task is internal reconciliation and policy clarity. For the broader public sphere, the challenge is addressing cost-of-living pressures and restoring trust that the political system works for ordinary Australians.
FAQs
What did the Newspoll say about Sussan Ley?
The Newspoll reported Sussan Ley’s approval rating at -20, signalling more respondents disapprove than approve of her performance as leader.
Why is One Nation gaining support?
Commentators say One Nation’s messaging appears to resonate with working-class voters who feel neglected by major parties, and it benefits from public frustration with political infighting.
Is retail theft increasing because of the cost of living?
Research indicates growing sympathy for petty theft in some quarters, and experts link this partly to cost-of-living stress, stretched policing resources and a perceived lack of consequences for offenders.
What was the TikTok controversy about?
A TikTok father faced backlash for letting his 10-year-old daughter buy crop tops and mesh clothing for her birthday. The debate focused on parenting, age-appropriate clothing and the role of social media scrutiny.
Where did this discussion come from?
This article summarises a 7NEWS debrief featuring Jonathan Edwards (5AAA) and Billy Milovanovitch (Wine Chats), who discussed the Newspoll results, retail theft research from Monash University, and the TikTok incident.
Credit
Original coverage by 7NEWS Australia. For the full segment, view the source video on 7NEWS’ channel.
The information in this article has been adapted from mainstream news sources and video reports published on official channels. Watch the full video here Sussan Ley's approval rating falls | 7NEWS
