Two separate opinion polls have shown Labor holds its lead over the Coalition government, with a key electoral test for the new Morrison cabinet team looming in the seat of Wentworth this weekend.
The Newspoll shows the margin has narrowed slightly over the past few months and now sits at 47-53 in Labor’s favour, two-party preferred.
The Fairfax Ipsos poll, meanwhile, shows a more decisive win for Labor at 45-55.
The result comes ahead of a by-election in the Sydney harbourside seat of Wentworth on Saturday, where the Liberals are fighting to maintain their one-seat majority in the House of Representatives.
Malcolm Turnbull's would-be successor for the Liberals, Dave Sharma, is locked in a three-way contest with Labor and independent Kerryn Phelps.
Speaking on Monday morning, prime minister Scott Morrison said voting independent was like a "box of chocolates".
"You never know what you’re gonna get," he said.
Religious schools can already discriminate in their hiring and admissions in some states, but the proposal would enshrine the right in federal law. Source: AAP
Besides the political split, the Fairfax poll asked voters for their views on current exemptions to discrimination laws that allow religious schools to exclude both gay students and gay teachers.
Scott Morrison has already committed to changing the law for students, but not for teachers.
The Fairfax polls shows 74 percent of voters want the exemption lifted for both –covering sexual orientation, relationship status and gender identity.
The poll comes after a controversial review of religious freedoms recommended allowing religious schools to discriminate against students on the basis of their sexuality.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed on Saturday the coalition would reject the advice, opting instead to strengthen discrimination laws to make sure no school can discriminate against LGBT young people.
