Support for Ms Pauline Hanson's anti-immigration One Nation party has fallen as voters, worried about her tax policy, return to the major parties before the October 3rd election, a new poll has found.
The poll, published by the Australian newspaper, also showed that the Labor opposition has edged ahead of Mr John Howard's coalition despite a strong government performance in the first week of the campaign.
Although the coalition and Labor were level on 41.5 per cent of primary votes, secondary votes which will decide the election gave Labor a lead of 51.5 per cent to 48.5 per cent - enough to form a government.
Nationally, One Nation's vote had dropped 2.5 points to 7.5 per cent a week after Ms Hanson unveiled plans for a 2 per cent flat tax on everything - which the poll suggested has damaged the party's credibility.
The poll, of 1,700 voters in all states, showed One Nation support down by more than a third since the 12 per cent recorded after its spectacular debut in the Queensland state poll, where it won a quarter of the vote with its policies opposing immigration and free trade.
The flat tax plan, which followed another One Nation proposal to finance 2 per cent loans to farmers by printing money, was met with ridicule by media and economic commentators.
Even One Nation officials have conceded it might have been a mistake. A One Nation candidate, Mr Peter Murphy, standing in the Queensland seat of McPherson, admitted yesterday that the policy had not gone down well.
However, he said the poll also suggested growing disenchantment with the goods and services tax which is central to Mr Howard's election strategy.