New Australia PM Morrison faces party popularity slump

Australians' support for the Coalition government has dropped to its lowest in a decade after it dumped Malcolm Turnbull and announced Scott Morrison as the new Prime Minister last Friday following a week of chaos, an opinion poll showed on Monday.

The Liberal-National Coalition's primary vote dropped four points to 33 per cent, the Newspoll showed, while the two-party-preferred split between Labor and the Coalition blew out from 51-49 in favour of Labor two weeks ago to 56-44.

Morrison must call a federal election by May 2019, but could face by-elections in two seats before that as Turnbull has said he plans to leave parliament soon and former foreign minister Julie Bishop, who stepped down on the weekend, could also quit.

Morrison, who was treasurer under outgoing prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, emerged the surprise winner in a three-way challenge for the leadership of the Liberal party brought on by a right-wing rival last week.

Morrison was sworn into office shortly after 6 pm (0800 GMT) on August 24.