A new opinion poll puts the Coalition ahead of Labor, though Kevin Rudd remains preferred prime minister.

Key points Coalition leads Labor 52 per cent to 48 per cent after preferences.

Coalition leads Labor 52 per cent to 48 per cent after preferences. Two weeks ago the major parties were tied 50-50 in two-party preferred.

Two weeks ago the major parties were tied 50-50 in two-party preferred. Labor's primary vote has slipped to 37 per cent while Coalition's rose to 45 per cent.

Labor's primary vote has slipped to 37 per cent while Coalition's rose to 45 per cent. Kevin Rudd's support has fallen from 53 per cent to 50 per cent.

Kevin Rudd's support has fallen from 53 per cent to 50 per cent. Tony Abbott's support has risen from 31 per cent to 34 per cent.

Tony Abbott's support has risen from 31 per cent to 34 per cent. The poll's margin of error is 3 per cent.

The Newspoll published in the Australian newspaper today has the Coalition leading Labor after preferences, 52 per cent to 48 per cent.

The change from the last Newspoll is within the poll's three-point margin of error.

Data from Newspoll and Nielsen two weeks ago had the two major parties tied on 50-50 in the two-party preferred stakes, representing a comeback for Labor after Mr Rudd toppled Julia Gillard as prime minister at the end of June.

The latest data sees Labor's primary vote slipping from 38 to 37 per cent, while the Coalition's rose from 42 to 45 per cent.

Mr Rudd still leads the preferred prime minister stakes, although support for him has fallen from 53 per cent to 50 per cent.

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Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's support has risen from 31 to 34 per cent.

But Labor's new hardline policy on asylum seekers has received a tick from voters.

On the question of which party was best placed to handle the issue of asylum seekers, Labor was at 26 per cent, up six points since the question was last asked, while the Coalition was down 14 points.

A Morgan poll released yesterday was unchanged from the previous week's survey, suggesting Labor was ahead 52.5 to 47.5 on a two-party preferred basis.

The polls follow a busy few weeks for Mr Rudd, who has been clearing the decks before he announces a new federal election date.

He has now revealed a new asylum seeker policy which will see all boat arrivals transferred to Papua New Guinea.

He has overhauled Labor Party rules to firm up the position of prime minister, and he has tackled the carbon tax, moving from fixed carbon price to a floating price a year early.

Speculation is now turning to when Mr Rudd will unveil his plans for the federal election.