A new analysis has revealed support for the government in key demographics has taken a hit, just weeks out from the federal election.
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Analysis of the latest Newspoll showed support among 35 to 49-year-olds has dropped seven points to 29 per cent, while Labor rose five points to 44 per cent.
Meanwhile, there has been a 12-point drop for the Liberal-National coalition among voters with an annual household income above $150,000.
Labor now leads the primary vote in the metric 36 to 33 per cent.
Overall, Labor holds a 55 to 45 per cent lead over the government on two-party preferred.
The opposition used Friday to spruik a regional first-home buyer support scheme.
The scheme would assist 10,000 families in regional areas to buy their first home, allowing people to have just a five per cent deposit without the need to pay for mortgage insurance, should Labor win office at the next election.
Places in the scheme would be reserved for people who have lived in a region for more than a year.
Property price caps would be in place to determine how much financial support the government would provide to home buyers.
It comes as Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten said there was not a need for an independent inquiry into claims late Victorian senator Kimberley Kitching was bullied.
Mr Shorten, a close friend of Senator Kitching, said it was time to move on from the controversy that had surrounded her death.
"For me, I want her remembered for being the fierce person she was," he told the Nine Network.
"I gave the eulogy, I've pretty much said all I'm going to say on her, and I'm just going to now grieve and try to come to terms with the gap which is in the life of my family and for the people who knew her and loved her."
Meanwhile, former senator Nick Xenophon believes the political climate is right for the return of centrist candidates, following the announcement he is making a fresh tilt for the upper house.
Almost five years after he resigned from the Senate after uncertainty over whether he was a dual citizen, Mr Xenophon says he will stand at the next federal election, due to be held in May.
"I've tried being a political hermit, I did that for four years and didn't work out ... the culture in Canberra has gotten worse, it's more toxic," he told ABC Radio on Friday.
"I like to think that from a political centre, I can make a positive contribution."
Mr Xenophon said he held off from announcing his intention to make a political comeback until after South Australia's state election so as not to confuse voters.
The former senator previously ran for state parliament in 2018 with his SA Best Party, but failed to win a single seat.
He said last weekend's defeat of the Liberal government after one term was telling.
"It was defining in the sense that the Liberals ran a woeful campaign. I think there is space there in the political centre to represent people to advocate for them on issues that the major parties had ignored," he said.
Independent senator Rex Patrick, a former adviser to Mr Xenophon who is up for re-election, is considering his political future.
Australian Associated Press
