The Ipsos poll conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age has the Labor leading the Liberal-National Coalition 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-party preferred, down from 54 per cent to 46 per cent in December.

Labor’s primary vote has fallen from 37 to 33 per cent over two months, while the coalition’s rose 36 to 38 per cent in the poll of 1200 voters.

It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week ramped up the rhetoric on border protection following a historic loss in parliament on legislation making it easier for refugees to get medical transfers to Australia.

Meanwhile, a separate YouGov Galaxy poll of 810 Queenslanders has Labor ahead 52 per cent to 48 per cent in the state on a two-party preferred basis, although 40 per cent of those polled say they are less likely to vote for the Labor because Bill Shorten is the leader.

Some 46 per cent of respondents were against the opposition’s policy to abolish franking credits for some retirees, while 36 per cent say the plan will have no bearing on their vote.

Despite this the LNP’s primary vote dropped three percentage points to 35 per cent since the last poll in November, against Labor which was unchanged on 34 per cent.

– AAP