WA premier lifts approval rating

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has begun to turn around his poor approval ratings but the state's two major parties remain locked on 50 per cent of the two-party preferred vote, the latest Newspoll shows.

The percentage of voters satisfied with the way Mr Barnett is doing his job has increased to 37 per cent from a record low of 32 per cent three months ago, the poll, conducted for News Corp Australia shows.

Labor leader Mark McGowan's satisfaction levels remain at 48 per cent, with only 27 per cent dissatisfied.

On the question of who would make the better premier, 40 per cent chose Mr McGowan and 39 per cent picked Mr Barnett.

Support for Mr Barnett's Liberal-Nationals alliance is little changed on 42 per cent of the primary vote, ahead of Labor, which has moved up from 31 per cent to 33 per cent.

The Greens are steady on 15 per cent, as are other minor parties and independents on 10 per cent.

On a two-party-preferred basis, the Liberal-Nationals and Labor are locked on 50 per cent.