Turnbull hope in key seat

A SHOCK poll has put Malcolm Turnbull’s government ahead in a Labor-held marginal Queensland seat as voters in four states prepare for a likely “Super Saturday” of five federal by-elections.

The stunning post-Budget boost for the PM comes after an offer of income tax cuts next year and on the back of the revived citizenship scandal which this week forced four more Labor MPs out of parliament.

A ReachTel poll of more than 1200 people in the Laborheld seat of Longman found the government leading 53 to 47 per cent.

The poll, commissioned by think tank The Australia Institute, found 36.7 per cent of voters intended to give the Liberals their first vote, as opposed to 32.5 per cent for Labor. One Nation, which is set to preference the LNP candidate, attracted 15 per cent.

Of the almost 5 per cent of undecided voters, 41 per cent would likely vote for the LNP candidate while just 18 per cent would again vote for Susan Lamb, forced to resign on Wednesday over her citizenship status.

But the poll also found promised income and company tax cuts were not as popular with voters as increased funding for health, education or paying down the nation’s debt.

“The company tax cuts remains not just bad economics, but deeply unpopular,” Executive Australia Institute director Ben Oquist said.

A “Super Saturday” of five simultaneous by-elections next month in South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland is expected to cost the taxpayer $7.5 million.