Anthony Albanese’s personal approval rating boost as Coalition’s primary vote falls

Anthony Albanese’s approval rating has received a boost as the Coalition’s primary vote falls for the third consecutive Newspoll.

Labor has maintained its lead over the Coalition 52-48 on a two-party-preferred basis, which suggests either a narrow outright victory for Mr Albanese or a hung parliament where he is in a good position to form minority, according to the latest Newspoll for The Australian.

It comes after Mr Albanese and Peter Dutton held their campaign launches today – with both pledging expensive new housing policies and income tax relief while savaging their opponent as unfit to lead.

The Prime Minister announced a surprise new policy of a $1000 automatic tax deduction for workers, as well as pledging $10bn to unlock 100,000 new homes strictly for first homeowners.

The Opposition Leader said mortgage payments for first homeowners with new builds would be tax deductible, while promising 10 million workers a one-off tax cut of as much as $1200 next year in a plan also costed at $10bn.

Both housing plans have been slammed by three independent economists as inflationary and likely to lead to a further spike in the cost of housing.

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Originally published as Anthony Albanese’s personal approval rating boost as Coalition’s primary vote falls