Labor slips ahead of coalition: Essential

Labor has edged ahead of the coalition in a new poll as almost one in three voters rate the government "out of touch".

The latest Essential poll gives Labor a 51-49 two-party preferred lead.

Labor's primary vote of 37 per cent is 3.6 points above its 2013 result, while the Liberal-Nationals primary vote of 41 per cent is 4.6 per cent below the previous election.

However, Labor would benefit from Greens preferences, with the minor party on 10 per cent of the primary vote.

Labor needs to gain 21 seats on a uniform swing of 4.3 per cent to oust the Turnbull government.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's approval rating stands at a net -2, having dropped from a net positive 30 per cent after taking the leadership from Tony Abbott last year.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's approval rating is a net -6.

Mr Turnbull is rated better prime minister by 40 per cent of voters, compared with 29 per cent for Mr Shorten.

Asked about the attributes of the Liberal party, 66 per cent said it was too close to business and 63 per cent said it was out of touch with ordinary people.

Only 35 per cent of voters said Labor was too close to business and 46 per cent rated the opposition as out of touch.

While 56 per cent of voters said Labor looked after the interests of ordinary people, only 31 per cent said the same about the Liberals.

The Liberals' strongest positive attribute was a "vision for the future", cited by 51 per cent of voters.

The Essential poll has a sample of 1787 voters and is based on two-week averages.