NSW: Labor loses lead over Coalition

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2000
NSW: Labor loses lead over Coalition

SYDNEY, April 18 AAP - Labor has lost its most recent lead in popularity over the government,
but the trend this year is favouring the opposition.

The ALP's support has slipped slightly in the past two weeks and the two major parties
are virtually equal, according to the latest Newspoll.

Taken last weekend for The Australian newspaper, it shows the coalition's preferred
government status rose two percentage points to 44 per cent while Labor fell two points
to 43 per cent.

Two weeks ago the ALP held a two-point lead over the government, which was divided
over mandatory sentencing and the stolen generations.

The Australian newspaper said although the coalition has drawn level with the ALP there
is a trend emerging which favours Labor.

In the six Newspoll surveys taken since the beginning of February, the ALP has had
two clear leads compared with the coalition's single clear win and the rest of the surveys
have been neck to neck.

The spread of Labor's support has been more consistent, between 42 and 45 per cent,
while the government's support has had a low of 41 per cent and a high of 47 per cent,
The Australian said.

AAP jo/was

KEYWORD: NEWSPOLL

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