WA Liberal Party leader David Honey’s approval rating at a humiliating low, new Painted Dog Research reveals

WA Liberal Party leader David Honey’s approval rating is at a humiliatingly low 9 per cent after more than a year-and-a-half in the job. The latest People’s Voice Survey showed fewer than one-in-ten respondents to the poll of 637 West Australians were “satisfied” with Mr Honey’s performance. Almost one-third — 31 per cent — were “dissatisfied” with the Cottesloe MP, 40 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied and 19 per cent did not know enough about him to answer. Men were more likely than women to approve of Dr Honey — 13 and 6 per cent respectively — while support was marginally higher among older voters. Worryingly for the Liberals, his approval rating is well below the 19 per cent scored by Liza Harvey just five months before she was convinced to resign as party leader. By comparison, support for Mark McGowan increased from 64 and 68 per cent in February and March — when he was under pressure to open the border — to 70 per cent last week. Those dissatisfied with the Premier’s performance also decreased from 25 per cent eight months ago down to 18 per cent. At the height of his pandemic popularity in mid-2020, Mr McGowan commanded 91 per cent support, according to the research. The latest survey, commissioned by The West Australian, was conducted by Painted Dog Research from October 19-21. Dr Honey was one of two Liberal MPs in Parliament’s Lower House to survive last year’s election wipe-out, meaning the party’s only other option to lead the rebuild is Libby Mettam. While there are no serious party room conversations about installing Ms Mettam imminently, Liberals sources previously told The West a switch to the Vasse MP is inevitable. Her profile rose when she took responsibility for the Shadow Health portfolio and when she chaired a parliamentary inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry. If Dr Honey were ousted from the leadership it would raise questions about whether he would remain the MP for Cottesloe, the Liberal Party’s safest electorate. Nationals WA leader Mia Davies has broad support as Opposition leader but is unlikely to be a credible alternative premier at the election given her party would revert to minority status in government. Painted Dog Research’s online survey was conducted with a registered survey panel and completed by a representative sample of respondents based on their age and gender.