Labor's strength on the key issues of education and health has improved since Julia Gillard became prime minister, but it's lagging behind the coalition on economic management, an opinion poll shows.
Labor has also extended its lead on industrial relations, but has lost ground to the coalition on economic management and asylum seekers, according to the latest Newspoll published in The Australian on Tuesday.
The poll figures show that in one week, the coalition has stormed ahead into a 12-point lead on its handling of the economy, 47 per cent to 35 per cent. In the last poll, Labor led the coalition 42-41.
On health, Labor is leading 51-30, an improvement on the previous 43-32 result.
Asked which party would best handle asylum seekers, 29 per cent of voters polled chose Labor compared to 42 per cent for the coalition, a three-point improvement.
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Labor held its lead over the coalition on climate change, 33-26.
The poll also found leadership has risen to become the fourth-most important issue for voters.
