The latest Newspoll suggests the coalition is closing the gap, with support for Labor slipping slightly in the wake of the federal budget but still strong enough to indicate an opposition victory with an election expected to be called within days.
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The poll, conducted for The Australian, shows 38 per cent would vote for Labor to form the next government - a fall of three points - with the coalition improving a point to 36 per cent.
The findings mean the contest has tightened to just two points from a six-point margin three weeks ago.
The Greens picked up two points to 10 per cent, while Pauline Hanson's One Nation and the United Australia Party remain unchanged on three per cent.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handed down a handful of short-term cost-of-living savings to voters in Tuesday's budget, which Labor described as a clear attempt to buy votes ahead of the election, which is expected to be called within a matter of days for May 14.
Labor retains a clear lead in the two-party preferred polling, where despite the coalition tightening the gap by a point the opposition remains eight percentage points ahead at 54-46.
That represents a 5.5 swing on 2019's federal election and suggests a comfortable victory for Labor.
Asked who would be a better prime minister, the poll of 1531 voters sided narrowly with Scott Morrison, who improved by a point to 43 per cent.
Over a period when both leaders have come under attack over alleged bullying behaviour within their own party, Anthony Albanese was unchanged on 42 per cent.
Australian Associated Press
