ELECTION 2010: Opinion polls suggest Labor and Coaltion now neck-and-neck

Labor’s lead of the Coalition appears to be dwindling, with a poll from research company Galaxy suggesting the party-preferred vote is now split 50/50 between the two parties.

The poll, taken earlier this week, suggests Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s campaign may been hurt by this week’s damaging leak which suggested she originally questioned key Labor policies of introducing a paid parental leave plan and increasing payments to pensioners.

However, two polls from Roy Morgan research suggest Labor still may have its nose in front, with a face-to-face poll taken last week suggesting Labor leads 54/46 on a two-party-preferred basis.

Gillard has lashed out at the leaks coming from within her party, threatening to sack ministers if there were further leaks from within the Labor Cabinet.

But the lingering leaks debacle is allowing Opposition Leader to continue to attack Gillard’s leadership, questioning whether the electorate can “trust a party that does not trust itself.”

Gillard, who is Perth for the first time in this election campaign, will spruik the Government’s broadband plan with Communications Minister Stephen Conroy.

The pair will unveil maps of the NBN which will show Australian households whether they will be covered by fibre optics, wireless or satellite technology.

Tony Abbott, who is campaigning in Adelaide, has this morning announced policies for water conservation in the Murray Darling region, and a new “education card” that will act as a voucher for parents of school-age children with disabilities.