Federal Labor's lead over the government has slipped after Bill Shorten backtracked on his decision to roll back tax cuts for small to medium-sized businesses, the latest Newspoll shows.
The coalition has again narrowed the gap with Labor by two percentage points, with the opposition now leading 51 per cent to 49 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, according to the poll published by The Australian on Monday.
The poll also shows Malcolm Turnbull continues to lead Mr Shorten as preferred prime minister on 46 per cent to 31 per cent.
Liberal frontbencher Simon Birmingham said voters were "increasingly understanding that the Turnbull government's plan for a strong economy is coming together".
Australians were also turning away from a "tricky, shifty Bill Shorten", he said.
"What's become very apparent, if it wasn't already over the last week, is that Bill Shorten just wants to reach further into the pockets of hard working Australian families, into the pockets of hard working Australian small and medium sized businesses, and that is just going to cripple our economy in the future and devastate jobs growth," he told Sky News on Monday.
Voters were also asked if they supported Mr Shorten's threat to stop tax cuts legislated for companies with turnover between $10 million and $50 million if Labor is returned to government.
Some 52 per cent said they strongly or somewhat supported this, against 37 per cent who didn't.
Meanwhile, Mr Shorten's approval rating dipped a point to 32 per cent, while dissatisfaction with the leader jumped two points to 57 per cent, giving him a net satisfaction rating of negative 25 per cent.
In contrast, Mr Turnbull's approval rating jumped two points to 42 per cent.
The poll comes just days after Mr Shorten was forced to backflip on Labor's company tax policy following what was dubbed his "captain's call".
Support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation was flat at six per cent, about half of what it was at the party's peak.
The poll of 1609 voters was taken between June 28 and July 1.
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