The coalition has drawn level with Labor on a two-party preferred basis for the first time in months but support for Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dropped, a Newspoll survey shows.
The parties are locked at 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis with support for the coalition up from 49 per cent in May, according to the latest Newspoll published in Monday's edition of The Australian newspaper.
The last time the parties were deadlocked was in February.
Support for the major parties was unchanged on a primary vote basis however, and the coalition still leads Labor 41-36.
The coalition's boost in the two-party preferred vote was attributed to a shift in support for minor parties.
Backing for the Greens dropped a percentage point to 11, while One Nation's primary vote rose from 2 to 3 per cent.
Meanwhile Mr Morrison's approval rating dropped sharply from 58 per cent in mid-May to 54 per cent, as Victoria's latest virus outbreak highlighted deficiencies in the vaccine rollout.
Labor has blamed Victoria's extended lockdown on the government's management of quarantine for returning travellers and the sluggish pace of the vaccine program, accusations that Mr Morrison rejected.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese's approval rating was slightly down, with 38 per cent satisfied with his performance in June compared with 39 per cent in May.
Mr Morrison still holds a commanding lead over Mr Albanese when respondents were asked who would make the better prime minister.
Fifty-three per cent backed Mr Morrison in the head-to-head battle (down from 55 per cent in March), compared with 32 per cent who supported Mr Albanese (up from 30 per cent).
The survey of 1516 voters was conducted between June 2-5.
Australian Associated Press
