The federal ALP has increased its lead over the Government by 2% according to the latest Morgan Poll. Labor is in front of the Coalition on a two party preferred basis 54 to 46%.

The gap in primary support between the ALP and Coalition has also increased, with Labor up 1% to 42.5% and the Government down 1.5 points to 39%.

Labor loses, however, in the “who do you think will win the next federal election” question. 59.5% of voters – up one – are tipping that the Government will be returned, with 28.5% – up half a point – backing the ALP.

And if Queensland might be looking like a foregone conclusion, November’s Victorian state election is shaping up as a closer competition, according to a surprise suggestion from Morgan research .

Special telephone polling conducted over the last two weeks puts Labor and the Coalition both on 50%. Primary support for the Government is 40.5%, the Coalition is on 43 and the Greens on seven.

More than half of Victorian voters – 57% – think Steve Bracks would make a better Premier than Ted Baillieu, but 36% of voters approve of the way the relatively new opposition leader is handling his job, up 10% from July.