Labor has gone on the offensive against the Coalition in key marginal seats after gaining a boost in published opinion polls, but government MPs are warning that their core support remains at risk from a backlash over the cost of living. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stepped up his visits to seats once seen as leaning to the Liberals, highlighting a shift in the campaign as Labor insiders express growing confidence in holding power at the election on May 3. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the campaign trail on Wednesday.

Credit: James Brickwood, Alex Ellinghausen The Coalition is fighting back in Labor’s heartland territory in the hope that suburban voters will punish Albanese over rising prices and help the Liberals win seats such as McEwen in northern Melbourne and Werriwa in western Sydney. But the Liberals have also revealed a crucial vulnerability in some of the communities they want to win back, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton staying away from “teal” seats as well as marginal seats closer to city centres such as Bennelong in Sydney and Chisholm in Melbourne.