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Anthony Albanese is confident of Labor retaining majority government for another term but has acknowledged the difficulty of winning the upcoming federal election.
Speaking in Perth to announce $350 million in federal funding for the Kwinana Freeway, the prime minister was asked about the latest Newspoll, which, just as other polls have, showed a narrow lead for the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis.
"I don't take election wins for granted," Albanese said in response.
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"Overwhelmingly, Labor has governed for around about a third of the time since Federation or less, so a Labor win is precious.
"We are working hard and fighting hard every day, not because it matters who drives the car with the flag on it, but because what matters is what governments do for people and what they do for our country's future.
"And I am passionate about making a difference each and every day."
The latest Newspoll results showed Labor's primary vote down at 31 per cent – the lowest it has been all term, equal with poll results just after the failed referendum campaign – while the Coalition's was flat from December at 39 per cent.
Labor's primary vote was at about 32.5 cent when it won government in 2022, while the Coalition's was slightly above 35.5 per cent, but preferences flowed in favour of the current government.
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On Newspoll's two-party preferred measure, the opposition took a slight lead, 51-49, while more respondents believe the Coalition will win the next election, 53-47, although a two-thirds majority think a minority government will be the outcome.
Despite that, Albanese said he was confident of staying in government, and claimed the opposition's policy to offer taxpayer-subsidised lunches and other entertainment for small businesses showed it wasn't ready to return to power.
"We will be campaigning to form a majority Labor government and I believe that we will be in a position to do so," he said.
"The only cost-of-living measure that Peter Dutton has come up with is free lunch, free karaoke nights, free golf days, free movie nights, paid for by all taxpayers in order to help just a few," he added.
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"A policy that would be rorted coming and going by people… it is ill-thought-out policy and it just shows that they are not ready to be taken seriously as an alternative government."
The opposition has denied that the policy, which would provide businesses with less than $10 million in turnover a tax deduction of up to $20,000 for staff or client lunches and entertainment if the Coalition, would cover alcohol, golf and sporting tickets.
"It's designed to provide support for a small business with a turnover of less than $10 million to come down to a local pub, to a local cafe, to a local restaurant and spend money in that cafe," Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said last week.
"For it to be tax deductible, and fringe benefits won't be applied, and it will be, I think, a huge success for the small business where that money is being spent."
The election is due to be held by May 17, although the actual date is yet to be announced.
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