PM gains popularity

THE prospect of income tax cuts has divided voters, but the Prime Minister’s popularity still got a bounce in the wake of the federal Budget.

The latest Newspoll found Malcolm Turnbull strengthened his position as preferred prime minister in his best result since the 2016 election.

His approval was up eight percentage points to 46 per cent, against Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on 32 per cent.

However the Coalition still trails Labor 49-51 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, according to the poll published in The Australian.