The federal coalition has been dealt more bad news in the latest Newspoll as the Liberal Party licks its wounds after a diabolical election loss in Victoria.
The coalition's primary vote has fallen for the third time in a row to a near-record low of 34 per cent.
Scott Morrison has doubled his lead over Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister over the past fortnight but his coalition government trails Labor on a two-party-preferred basis by 45 to 55 per cent.
The resounding re-election of Labor's Daniel Andrews as Victorian premier is looming large as MPs return to Canberra for the final sitting weeks of the year.
If the five per cent swing towards Victorian Labor is replicated at the federal election, which is due in less than six months, the coalition government will be comprehensively wiped out.
Mr Shorten rejected suggestions the next election was "unlosable" for Labor.
"What we're going to do is take nothing for granted," he told Sky News on Monday.
Federal politicians won't have too long to dwell on Saturday's vote in Victoria, as they prepare to debate anti-terrorism laws and energy policy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants the parliament to urgently pass laws to help police and intelligence officers access encrypted communications.
His government is also seeking Labor's support for laws to strip Australian citizenship from convicted terrorists.
Energy policy is expected to feature in question time, with Labor outlining its support for the National Energy Guarantee, which the coalition designed and then dropped.
The minority-held government will also face greater difficulty passing laws once independent MP Kerryn Phelps, who won Malcolm Turnbull's former seat of Wentworth, is sworn in.
Dr Phelps will pursue laws to set up a national integrity commission, which are set to be debated in the lower house on Monday.
Labor may seek to exploit the minority parliament to seek the referral of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Liberal colleague Chris Crewther to the High Court over eligibility issues.
If Labor is able to add the six crossbench voters to its 69, these referral motions could be successful.
