The embattled Australian government's popularity plunged to a record low yesterday with surging support for the anti-immigration politician, Ms Pauline Hanson, threatening to sweep it from power.
An opinion poll showed the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, would be easily ousted in a looming national election as Ms Hanson's One Nation entices away disgruntled conservative voters.
Meanwhile Mr Howard's Liberal-National coalition remained locked in talks with a key independent senator to win his support for Aboriginal land rights reforms and give the Prime Minister more flexibility in choosing when to go to the polls.
Senator Brian Harradine said a deal averting a double dissolution election was almost complete, but Mr Howard told backbenchers that talks would continue.
According to The Australian newspaper's Newspoll, the Labour opposition would snatch office in a landslide win less than three years after suffering the worst election loss in two decades. Its support has hit 45 per cent, compared to the government's 34 per cent. One Nation has surged to a record 13 per cent.
Under Australia's transferable voting system, Ms Hanson is threatening to pass One Nation votes to Labour in key seats to help oust leading conservative MPs.
The poll echoed other major surveys over the past few weeks.
But Mr Howard is also seeking to avert a special "double dissolution" snap election over Aboriginal land rights that could give Ms Hanson the balance of power in parliament's powerful upper house Senate.
He has threatened to dissolve both houses and call an election if the Senate refuses to approve a bill winding back Aboriginal land rights. Mr Howard has given the Senate until the end of the week to reverse its opposition.