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Nearly two thirds of voters expect Labor to win the upcoming Australian federal election, with a new poll showing the coalition eight percentage points behind the opposition just a week out from polling day.
In the latest Nielsen poll, the government has edged up one percentage point on a two-party preferred basis, but still lags eight points behind Labor which holds a commanding 54 to 46 per cent lead.
Labor's two-party support had dipped by one point in the latest poll.
The coalition's primary vote was up two percentage points to 43 per cent, but still behind Labor on 47 per cent (down one point).
But in what could prove to be the biggest indicator of the government's chances, 60 per cent of voters predicted a Labor win, while 29 per cent favoured the coalition.
The poll, conducted from Monday to Wednesday this week, also showed Prime Minister John Howard's rating as preferred prime minister had risen two percentage points to 43 per cent.
Labor leader Kevin Rudd's approval as preferred prime minister was unchanged on 49 per cent.
Nielsen polling director John Stirton said the coalition had clawed back some ground since the election was called, "but not yet enough to significantly reduce Labor's lead".
The government's predicament was reinforced in separate Newspolls, which too showed Labor holding an eight point lead over the government.
The Australian newspaper reported that an analysis of the past two weeks of Newspolls showed the coalition gaining some ground in NSW and South Australia, but well behind on an overall two-party preferred basis.
In NSW the government had improved by one percentage point to 47 per cent, and in South Australia from 42 per cent to 47 per cent.
But overall it still trailed Labor by 54 to 46 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, the figures from the two Newspolls showed.
-AAP
