Labor’s longest-serving premier, Mike Rann, is in deep trouble in South Australia, where the ALP’s primary vote has been overtaken by the state Liberals, leaving tied after preferences. Labor’s primary vote in Queensland dropped five percentage points to 38 per cent, against 41 per cent for the newly merged Liberal National Party.

Although the primary vote did not change outside the margin of error of the latest Newspoll survey, taken on the weekend, the Coalition did register its best performance since the election with a primary vote of 38 per cent, up one point, compared with Labor’s 42 per cent, down two points. The two-party-preferred support was back to the levels of mid-July, with the Coalition on 45 per cent and Labor on 55.

88 per cent of those surveyed said Australia should introduce an emissions trading scheme, with 61 per cent saying it should happen regardless of what other countries did. A clear majority, 58 per cent, said they would be prepared to pay more for energy, although only 50 per cent of Coalition voters were prepared to accept price rises.

The Newspoll indicates Labor could lose at least nine seats - and office - if a 4 per cent swing in marginal seats becomes uniform across the state. The results are seriously bad news for Labor, which earlier this week said it would have lost an election held last weekend.

The latest Newspoll in Victoria makes stark reading for the Libs. It suggests not much has changed since Steve Bracks’ thumping win over then new-boy Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu in 2006. At the election, Labor won about 54.5% of the vote after the distribution of preferences. In the July-August Newspoll, Labor garnered 54%.

Because of an increase in support for “others and independents”, there was a one-point change in the two-party-preferred standings. Based on preferences at the last election, Labor’s lead on a two-party-preferred basis was 56per cent to the Coalition’s 44per cent.

However, the latest Newspoll shows the Opposition Leader continuing to flatline on an approval rating in the mid-teens. And after weeks of leadership speculation over the future of former treasurer Peter Costello, the poll also shows little change in support for the major parties or their leaders.

The Opposition Leader’s task is near impossible. He has inherited the worst job in politics, at the worst time, and he has made his own mistakes. Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party continue to ride on highs of popularity, while Dr. Nelson continues to languish in the polls. His colleagues are not enthusiastic; he’s been undermined and everyone thinks that Malcolm Turnbull or Peter Costello will be Liberal leader by Christmas.

The poll comes at a time when the Government is forging ahead with several controversial infrastructure projects, such as the north-south pipeline, the desalination plant and the dredging of Port Phillip Bay. It has also been caught out badly on providing sufficient public transport for rapidly growing Melbourne.

The latest Newspoll reveals that Labor’s lead of 54 per cent to 46 per cent has been eroded to such a point that little now separates it and the Opposition on a two-party-preferred basis, with Labor just ahead at 51 per cent to 49 per cent. Combined primary support for the two conservative parties — the Liberals and the Nationals — jumped seven points to equal Labor on 42 per cent.