ELECTION 2010: Polls still tight as election enters final week

New polls reveal the outcome of the federal election is still too close to call just five days out from voting, although Labor still holds on to a slight lead as it hosts its official campaign launch in Brisbane.

But Coalition leader Tony Abbott is on the attack, announcing plans for a new welfare system and clean-coal technology while refusing to debate Prime Minister Julia Gillard on the economy, describing her economic credentials as “laughable”.

A new Newspoll published in The Australian this morning has Labor leading the coalition 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis, while a new Age/Nielsen poll has Labor leading 53-47 in the same category. However, Abbott is still 14 points behind Gillard as preferred Prime Minster.

These two polls come after a Galaxy poll released yesterday show the Coalition leading 51.4% to 48.6%.

However, the race is still too close to call. All of the polls show the Liberal party is holding ground in Victoria, and is also gaining popularity in marginal seats in Queensland and New South Wales – seats which Labor must hold on to for it to stay in power.

And although the major betting agencies still have Labor winning on Saturday, the new polls have prompted discussions of a possible Liberal win or even a hung Parliament, with the Tasmanian Exmainer publishing a poll suggesting the Greens could win seats on Liberal preferences.

Meanwhile, Labor held its official campaign launch in Brisbane this morning hoping to give itself a boost in the few remaining days before polls open, emphasising its economic credentials and performance during the global financial crisis as core evidence of its qualifications for power.

Treasurer Wayne Swan introduced Bob Hawke, who attacked the Liberal party for focusing on Labor’s relatively low amounts of debt.

“We have the form, we have the record, we have the policies and, my friends, we have the leader,” he said.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard also took to the stage, emphasising the party’s approach to industrial relations and broadband as key reasons for its superiority.

Gillard also announced new initiatives to allow Australians in rural areas to receive rebates for using technology to access health care consultations.

Meanwhile, Tony Abbott is preparing for a frantic week. This morning, while campaigning in five seats in Sydney, he announced plans for a new welfare system that would move younger recipients into a work-based system.

“In the end there is no such thing as a free lunch and it is important for people to understand that if you want to get a fair go, you’ve got to give a fair go – and that means as far as is humanly possible contributing to society,” he told The Age.

“I’m not saying that people on welfare don’t contribute in their own way, but as many as possible should be encouraged to be economically active as well as socially and culturally active.”

The Coalition has also launched a new clean-coal initiative. Using money cut from Labor’s Carbon Capture and Storage scheme, Abbott will pledge $150 million for the exploration development program and $158 million for a clean-coal technology plan over four years.