Australia's ruling Labor could retain power with slim majority in May vote

14/4/2025 12:47

Australia's ruling centre-left Labor party could retain power with a slim majority after a national election on May 3, a widely-watched poll said on Monday, marking a reversal of sentiment from February, when voters wanted it out of office.



A Newspoll survey conducted for The Australian newspaper showed support for the Liberal-National opposition coalition has fallen below levels seen at the last election in 2022, while approval for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ticked up.



The poll said, the election could also deliver a hung parliament with Labor likely forming a minority government.



Labor is ahead of the opposition 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis under Australia's preferential voting system, where votes from minor parties are redistributed until a winner is elected.



Albanese's approval rating has lifted to -4, aligning with an improvement in Labor's rise in support, from -20 in February, his worst as prime minister. He has also extended his lead as the preferred leader, while opposition leader Peter Dutton's approval fell to among the worst of his term.