Labor has increased its lead over the Coalition in two new polls as early voting centres open across the country on Monday, two weeks before the federal election.

The Australian‘s Newspoll released on Monday shows Labor rising one point to 54-46 per cent on a two-party preferred basis (compared to 53-47 per cent a week before).

Support for Labor is at 39 per cent, with the Coalition slipping to 35 per cent.

Anthony Albanese has edged closer to Scott Morrison as the preferred prime minister, with the Labor leader’s rating rising 3 points and Mr Morrison’s falling one point to lead by just 44-42 per cent.

On Sunday night, the Australian Financial Review‘s Ipsos poll had Labor increasing its lead to 57-43 on a two-party preferred basis.

This represents a two per cent swing towards Labor in the fortnight since the previous poll, the report said.

The poll results follow last week’s first interest rate rise in more than a decade the Labor leader’s stumble when asked to name the six points of his NDIS policy.

If Monday’s Newspoll trend was replicated across the nation on May 21, it would translate to Mr Albanese leading Labor to a considerable victory in which it would assume a majority government.

Support for the Greens (11 per cent), Pauline Hanson’s One Nation (5 per cent) and Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party (4 per cent) were unchanged.

#BREAKING: Labor has stretched its lead over the Coalition in the wake of the interest rate rise #Newspoll #ausvotes https://t.co/jYAFfgmlJL pic.twitter.com/hIDfwhmxIC

— The Australian (@australian) May 8, 2022

The two-point turnaround in popular support for the two parties equates to the largest margin the ALP has held since the start of the six-week campaign.

After a week in which the Reserve Bank lifted interest rates, Newspoll noted that female voters were increasingly turning to the ALP to better manage worsening cost-of-living pressures.

Male voters were equally split on 44 per cent, but female voters preferred Labor 45-38, with 17 per cent undecided.

Attitudes varied among age groups, with 59 per cent of voters aged over 65 favouring the Coalition and 57 per cent of 18- to 34-year-olds supporting Labor.

Likewise, those in the 50 to 64 age group leant towards the Coalition (45-38) as Labor was preferred (45-36) in the 35- to 49-year-old demographic.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese and PM Scott Morrison make their point in the second leaders’ debate at Nine Studios in Sydney on Sunday night. Photo: AAP

Mr Morrison suffered a fall in his personal approval ratings (down a point to 44 per cent) as Mr Albanese lifted three points to 42 per cent in the preferred PM stakes.

Mr Morrison also received his lowest net approval rating of minus 14 since early March, with his Labor opponent receiving a net negative rating of minus six.

The two leaders went head-to-head in the second leaders debate on Sunday night on Channel Nine.

Viewers were evenly split 50-50 between the two men vying for the nation’s top job.

Early voting opens

Meanwhile the Australian Electoral Commission is urging people to plan their vote amid the backdrop of the pandemic.

About 550 early voting centres will be operational nationwide in the lead up to polling day.

Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said despite the AEC’s planning, services could still be impacted by COVID-19.

He said there were plenty of voting options for people who couldn’t turn up on election day.

“Australian elections are in-person, community events held once every three years and built around election day, so if you can vote on election day then that’s what you should do,” Mr Rogers said.

“We ask for all Australians to be patient. We have all learned to adjust our service expectations throughout COVID.

“There will be some queues which is why everyone needs to plan their vote.”

 -with AAP