The federal coalition has overtaken Labor for the first time in a key electoral field, according to a shock new poll.
The Liberal-National Coalition overtook Labor in New South Wales, where its primary vote rose two points to 40 percent for the first time, while Labor improved just one point to 33 percent.
It indicates that Anthony Albanese’s party could lose two seats in the state in the next election.
The coalition has also increased its lead in Queensland and is gaining ground on Labor in Victoria and South Australia, where the prime minister’s party still leads.
The state-by-state survey of almost 5,000 Australians, conducted by Newspoll for The Australianfound that Labor still leads the Coalition with a narrow two-party preferred vote of 51-49.
But most male voters now back the Coalition for the first time, while female voters still marginally favour Labor.
The results suggest that Labour 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 by Labour’s apparent loss of support among young voters, where its primary vote has fallen three points to 30 per cent.
In worrying news for Anthony Albanese (pictured), the LNP overtook Labor in New South Wales for the first time, where its primary vote rose two points to 40 per cent.
Peter Dutton (pictured last week with his wife Kirilly) also overtook Anthony Albanese in his home state of Queensland as the preferred prime minister.
This demographic, aged 18 to 34, has largely shifted to the Greens, whose support has risen to 27 per cent.
Mr Dutton has also overtaken Mr Albanese in his home state of Queensland as the preferred prime minister.
In South Africa, the parties are tied at 34 percent each in support for primaries, with the Coalition gaining one point and Labor losing one.
Elsewhere, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party made gains, rising from seven to ten per cent in Queensland and from ten to twelve per cent in South Australia.