Major events neck and neck as election attracts nearer

Labor and the Coalition have drawn level in a pre-election poll as Prime Minister  Anthony Albanese prepares to announce the date of the election.

The latest YouGov poll shows the Opposition making up ground on the government, with the major parties now tied 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis.

In the previous poll, the government had held a 51 to 49 per cent lead, off the back of the response to ex-tropical cyclone Alfred and public reaction to the government’s backing of Ukraine.

While the Coalition drew level in the two-party-preferred vote, Anthony Albanese is still ahead of Peter Dutton as preferred prime minister, leading Mr Dutton 45 per cent to 40 per cent.

YouGov’s director of public data Paul Smith said that edge in personal approval could be decisive in a tight election.

‘It is a very close race but the prime minister has now consolidated his lead as preferred leader and that is significant,’ he said.

Labor’s primary vote remains unchanged since the last poll at 31 per cent, while the Coalition edged up one point to 37 per cent.

It’s neck and neck in the two party preferred basis ahead of the federal election

The coalition has increased its voter share to 37 per cent

The primary vote also went backwards by half a percentage point for both the Greens and One Nation, down to 13 and seven per cent respectively, while support for independents also fell by one point to eight per cent.

Mining magnate Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party stands at just one per cent despite another big-spending advertising campaign.

The YouGov poll also showed Mr Dutton retaking the lead for satisfaction among voters.

The Opposition Leader’s satisfaction is at minus five per cent, with 42 per cent satisfied and 47 per cent dissatisfied.

Mr Albanese’s net satisfaction stands at minus nine per cent, with 41 per cent satisfied and 50 per cent dissatisfied.

The polling comes as Labor prepares to hand the federal Budget on Tuesday, which is set to show a deficit in the country’s finances after back-to-back surpluses.

Anthony Albanese is still the preferred Prime Minister over Peter Dutton

Albanese knows the upcoming federal election will be close 

The financial outlook prompted many to forecast the government would not deliver a Budget and would instead call an election.

However, the threat from Alfred in Queensland and northern NSW prompted Mr Albanese to defer his plans to visit the governor-general early enough to avoid a budget.

The election must be held by May 17, with Mr Albanese expected to call the poll in the days after the budget.

The YouGov poll surveyed 1,500 people between March 14 and 18, with a margin of error of 3.4 per cent.