This week’s Morgan Poll shows shows the Government still travelling comfortably in the wake of the Turnbull-Nelson split over fuel excise.

The poll, taken last weekend before this week’s damaging Government rifts over Fuelwatch were exposed, has the Government stronger in primary vote terms but steady on a two-party preferred basis, 61-39.

It seems an age ago now, but the Coalition spent most of last week spinning its wheels over the excise issue and speculation about who was coming and going. The next poll, to be taken this weekend, will establish whether the Government’s abysmal performance over Fuelwatch inflicted real damage on its standing.

More respondents, however, are saying they feel Australia isn’t headed in the right direction, suggesting the Government’s problems this week could play into negative voter sentiment about its capacity to handle key issues.