Labor has surged further ahead of the Turnbull government in the latest Guardian Essential poll, following a messy week in Canberra and the revival of the Barnaby Joyce controversy.
The poll shows Labor ahead of the coalition 54 per cent to 46 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, reversing a tightening of the contest following the federal budget.
The dip for the coalition this fortnight follows renewed backlash against Mr Joyce for dragging his private life into the public spotlight, after he took part in a paid interview about his affair with former staffer Vikki Campion.
It also comes after Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash was subpoenaed to give evidence in court over union raids, and Health Minister Greg Hunt was forced to apologise for an expletive-filled tirade against a local mayor.
The poll of 1025 respondents was not all bad news for the coalition, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recording his best net approval rating since June 2016, while Labor leader Bill Shorten went backwards.
Mr Turnbull also remains comfortably ahead of Mr Shorten as preferred prime minister.
