Labor’s lead in the latest Newspoll has narrowed to 51-49, with support for the Anthony Albanese-led government slipping amid the cost-of-living crisis.

The results of the online poll of 1223 voters between March 18 and 22, which was published in The Australian newspaper on Sunday night, should give both major parties cause to reflect on their diminishing appeal to voters.

The ALP’s primary vote fell a point to 32 per cent – its lowest point since November – as the Peter Dutton-led Coalition gained a point to 37 per cent.

But any joy for Dutton quickly vanishes with the realisation that replicating this result – a two-point increase since the May 2022 election – at a future poll would not be enough to form government.

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This means just under one-third (31 per cent) of voters nominated a party other than the majors, with the Greens (up a point to 13 per cent), One Nation (up a point to 7 per cent) and minor parties and independents (down two points to 11 per cent) accounting for the shift.

The trend mirrors the experience of the weekend’s Tasmanian election in which neither of the major parties could win enough seats to form a majority government.

Energy policy, vehicle emissions standards, the housing crisis and migration are among the major issues facing the government.

On a personal level, Albanese’s approval ratings increased a point to 44 per cent as his disapproval ratings remained steady at 51 per cent for an overall rating of -7.

Dutton’s overall rating declined a point to -15 after a rise in his disapproval rating to 52 per cent. His approval rating remained 37 per cent.

Albanese extended his lead as preferred prime minister to 44-34, with 18 per cent undecided.