Coalition eats into Labor poll lead. 18/06/2007. ABC News Online

Two newspaper opinion polls published today show Labor still holds a lead over the Federal Coalition in the run-up to this year's federal election.

But the Newspoll in The Australian newspaper shows the ALP shedding six percentage points in the primary vote standings.

The poll gives Labor 46 per cent of the primary vote and the Coalition 39 per cent, with Labor ahead 56 per cent to 44 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

An AC Nielsen poll published in Fairfax newspapers hands Labor 48 per cent of the primary vote and the Coalition 39 per cent. Labor is also in front on a two-party preferred basis with 57 per cent, compared to the Coalition's 43 per cent.

Opposition treasury spokesman Wayne Swan says he is not concerned by the Newspoll's slide in Labor support.

"The last Newspoll was a huge Newspoll which was simply unsustainable," he said.

"The Howard Government has thrown the kitchen sink at the Labor Party in the last month, but it appears the mood for change, the desire for a fresh start, the desire for strong leadership when it comes to putting in place economic prosperity beyond the mining boom, are all seeing Labor out there with a reasonable lead."

Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister Tony Smith says it is going to be a tight race.

"We understand that it's a tough fight," he said.

"We've been saying that for some weeks. Clearly with the polls as they are people are contemplating change. The Prime Minister's said that and said it quite clearly.

"But the change would be a change for the worse and what the next election will present is the clearest choice in a generation."