Australian govt heading for election defeat: Poll

Results published on Saturday showed Labor trailing the opposition by 49 percent to 51 percent on a 8216;two-party8217; basis,eliminating minor parties under Australia8217;s system of transferable voting.

The results,published in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers,represent a swing to Labor of one percentage point since last week. Labor8217;s primary vote was steady at 36 percent,the opposition8217;s was down one percent at 44 percent,while the Greens were up one percent at 13 percent.

Other polls have been more favorable to the government,but have shown its lead narrowing,pointing to a possible hung parliament.

The Reuters Poll Trend on Wednesday had the government narrowly ahead with 51.5 percent of the two-party vote,compared to 48.5 for the opposition.

Gillard,Australia8217;s first female prime minister,started the campaign for the August 21 election with a strong lead over opposition leader Tony Abbott8217;s conservative coalition,but infighting in her Labor party and a series of damaging leaks has hindered her campaign.

In the last few days former prime minister Rudd,ousted in a leadership coup in June,has publicly emerged after a gall bladder operation and vowed to campaign for a Gillard victory.

Abbott needs to win at least 17 government seats to take power.