Scott Morrison starts the week with Newspoll surge

Scott Morrison has begun his week in the best possible way, with a new poll pointing to a major lift in his government’s popularity.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is heading into the final parliamentary sitting week ahead of the winter break on the back of a new poll pointing to a lift in his government’s popularity.

The Coalition’s primary vote has increased by 2.6 per cent since its May election victory to 44 per cent, according to the Newspoll published by The Australian on Monday.

On a two-party preferred basis, the Government now leads Labor 53 per cent to 47 per cent.

Mr Morrison also leads Labor leader Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister at 48 per cent to 31 per cent, while Labor’s primary vote remains largely unchanged at 33 per cent.

With four sitting days left ahead of the winter recess, Mr Morrison wants to pass laws making it easier to kick rogue officials out of the union movement.

The Coalition’s primary vote has increased by 2.6 per cent since its May election victory. Picture: AAP Image/Gary Day

Mr Morrison also wants more power to deregister misbehaving unions and put checks on union mergers.

The Government is yet to clinch crucial Senate crossbench support for his union-busting legislation, but the Labor Opposition claims the industrial relations laws expose the Prime Minister’s deep-seated “hatred” for unions in general.

Meanwhile, Labor will this week try to set up a parliamentary inquiry into meetings between Energy Minister Angus Taylor and environmental officials about endangered grasslands.

Labor is pursuing the cabinet minister over his interest in a family company linked to an investigation into alleged illegal land clearing.

But Mr Taylor says his business interests have been declared, and he has accused the Opposition of waging a “grubby smear campaign”.

The Government has so far managed to fend off an inquiry.