Labor is going into the federal election as the underdog, a senior minister says, despite multiple polls showing a surge in support for the government over the coalition.
The latest Newspoll published in The Australian shows Labor ahead 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese retained and opened up his lead over Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as preferred prime minister, at 49 per cent to 38 per cent.
It's the prime minister's biggest lead as preferred prime minister since the May 2022 federal election.
Meanwhile, the latest Resolve poll shows the government has clawed back ground to draw level with the coalition at 50-50.
The government had been trailing the opposition in the polls since the start of the year but has been making gains in the lead up to the election.
But Defence Minister Richard Marles downplayed the shift in support to the government ahead of voters going to the polls on May 3.
"We don't follow opinion polls by the day, it is not good for your mental health if you are in politics," he told ABC TV on Monday.
"We focus on what our job is, which is to govern the country.
"We are not looking at that, this is a close election; everyone knows we are coming from behind."
Coalition campaign spokesman James Paterson said the opposition was not concerned about the polls.
"The polls show the next election is going to be close. Polls have shown that for the best part of a year," he told ABC TV.
"We have a big task ahead of us - no first term government has been removed from office in 100 years.
"It shows the Australian people have a significant choice to make over five weeks."
The Newspoll survey of more than 1200 voters showed primary support for Labor lifting from 32 per cent to 33 per cent, while the coalition recorded a drop of two percentage points to 37 per cent.
The Greens remained at 12 per cent while support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation dropped from seven per cent to six.
Meanwhile, the Resolve poll of more than 3000 people showed Mr Albanese ahead of Mr Dutton by 42 per cent to 33 per cent as preferred prime minister.
Asked about the polling, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said "some people" might find Mr Dutton's "strengths a bit disconcerting".
"Peter is a tough leader," he told Seven's Sunrise program.
"At times I don't get along with him, at times I do, but I have to say he is a good man and he is a strong man and he is the right guy to be prime minister of Australia."
Senior Labor MP Tanya Plibersek said the poll results are close, and the party is taking nothing for granted.
"Our whole focus is trying to make life a little easier for people," she told Seven.
The Newspoll is the third major survey to show the government gaining ground after the Resolve and YouGov polls reported support swinging Labor's way.
The latest YouGov modelling shows Labor on track to win 75 seats and the coalition 60.
Parties need to get 76 seats for a majority.
Marginal seats in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia, in past elections, have had a lot of sway over who ends up in the Lodge in Canberra.
But in this election, political experts see Victoria, particularly Melbourne seats, as a key battleground.
The YouGov modelling, released on Sunday, projects that Labor could lose five seats to the opposition but win two seats back from the Greens and one from the coalition.
It showed the coalition could lose three seats, and all teal independent MPs could retain their seats.
