Coalition and Labor tied at 50% in poll

A new poll shows that Australia's major political parties are currently tied as the federal election approaches. The latest YouGov poll indicates that both the Labor party and the coalition have equal support from voters, at 50-50 on a two-party preferred basis. This shift comes after Labor had a slight lead of 51 to 49 percent for the past two weeks. The change follows recent government responses to ex-tropical cyclone Alfred and public sentiment regarding support for Ukraine. Although the coalition is gaining ground, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remains the preferred leader over opposition leader Peter Dutton, with 45 percent of voters backing Albanese compared to 40 percent for Dutton. The coalition has increased its overall voter share to 37 percent, while Labor's primary vote has held steady at 31 percent. Both the Greens and One Nation have seen a decline in their primary votes, down to 13 and 7 percent respectively. Meanwhile, independents also dropped to 8 percent. Dutton has recently gained improved satisfaction ratings from voters, now at minus five percent, while Albanese's satisfaction is lower at minus nine percent. The government is preparing to release its fourth federal budget, which is expected to show a deficit after previous surpluses. The election must take place by May 17, and it is anticipated that Albanese will announce it soon after the budget is presented. The poll surveyed 1,500 people with a margin of error of 3.4 percent.