Newspoll result: Coalition for first time for Anthony Albanese’s Labor government on key battleground

The federal Coalition has for the first time held a narrow lead over Labor in a key election battleground, according to a surprise new poll.

The Liberal-National Coalition has overtaken Labor in NSW, with its pre-election vote up two percentage points to 40 percent for the first time in history. Labor rose just one percentage point to 33 percent.

It suggests Anthony Albanese’s Labor government could lose two seats in the state at the next election.

The Coalition, led by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, has also increased its lead in Queensland and is closing in on Labor in Victoria and South Australia, where Labor still holds the lead.

The state-by-state survey of almost 5,000 Australians, conducted by Newspoll for The Australian over a three-month quarterly period, Labor was found to still hold the lead in the coalition with a reduced two-party preference vote of 51-49.

But the majority of male voters now support the Coalition for the first time, while female voters still marginally prefer Labor.

The results suggest that Labor could be forced to form a minority government with independents at the next election, expected in May next year.

The Prime Minister will be concerned about Labor’s loss of support among young voters, as the primary vote fell by three percentage points to 30 per cent.

In worrying news for Anthony Albanese (pictured), the LNP has overtaken Labor for the first time in NSW, where the Liberal-National Coalition primary vote rose by two points to 40 per cent.

This 18-34 demographic has largely shifted to the Greens, who have seen support rise to 27 percent. Support for the Coalition among the younger age group is also 27 percent.

In the 35-49 age group, the Coalition has increased its support by six points, narrowly trailing Labor on the two-party preference basis.

Mr Dutton has also overtaken Mr Albanese in his home state of Queensland as the preferred premier.

In South Africa, the parties are tied on 34 percent of the vote going into the primaries, with the Coalition gaining one point and Labor losing one.

Elsewhere, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party made gains, rising from seven to 10 percent in Queensland and from 10 to 12 percent in South Australia.

Peter Dutton (pictured last week with his wife Kirilly) has also overtaken Anthony Albanese in his home state of Queensland as the preferred premier

When asked who would be the best prime minister, Albanese (48 percent) maintained a 12-point lead over Dutton (36 percent).

The remaining 16 percent of voters had not yet made a choice.

Only 44 percent of voters were satisfied with Albanian’s performance as prime minister, while 50 percent were dissatisfied.

Only 38 percent were satisfied with Dutton’s performance as opposition leader, while 51 percent were dissatisfied.