A run of controversial policy decisions and hospital scandals has seen support for the NSW government crash to leave Labor and the Coalition neck and neck almost 18 months after Premier Mike Baird's 2015 election victory.

An exclusive poll conducted for Fairfax Media shows support for Labor and the Coalition at 50–50 on a two-party preferred basis, using preference flows from the 2015 election.

This is a swing away from the government of about four percentage points from the 2015 result which delivered it a second term.

If applied as a uniform swing it would not be enough for Labor to win the next election in 2019 but could bring it tantalisingly close to forming minority government with crossbench support.