The Turnbull government’s huge lead over the Opposition has decreased, according to the latest Morgan Poll released on Monday.

It found that 1.5 per cent less Australians (56 per cent) preferred the Coalition, while 1.5 per cent more people supported the Labor Party (44 per cent).

However, the Coalition’s 12 per cent gap over Labor on a two-party-preferred basis still meant it would win an election easily if held now.

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Primary support for the Liberal-National Party Coalition was down 1 per cent (47 per cent), whereas it rose 2 per cent for Labor (29 per cent).

Support for the Greens also dropped 1.5 per cent (13 per cent) on the primary vote measure.

It was the first poll conducted since former Minister for Cities Jamie Briggs and former Special Minister of State Mal Brough resigned. 

The poll also asked voters: “what the main issue for the Turnbull government was as it faces a 2015 Federal Election?”

“Apart from overseas concerns the main issue for the Turnbull government as it faces reelection this year is to outline a credible plan to tackle Australia’s high real unemployment – now at 9.7 per cent (1.256 million) – and under-employment – 11.0 per cent (1.434 million) in December,” executive chairman Roy Morgan Research Gary Morgan said.

“This means a record high 2.69 million Australians (20.7 per cent) are either unemployed or underemployed (working part-time and looking for more hours or a full-time job).”

The poll was conducted over the weekends starting January 2 and 9 with 2839 Australian electors.