In late July, primary support for the L-NP fell 1% to 43.5% and support for the ALP rose 1% to 38.5%. On a two-party preferred basis, L-NP support was down 0.5% to 50% while ALP support was up 0.5% to 50%. If a Federal Election had been held in late July, it would have been too close to call, the latest Morgan Poll finds.

Support for the minor parties was stable. Support for the Greens was 9% (down 0.5%), Australian Democrats 2.5% (unchanged), One Nation 1% (unchanged) and Other Parties and Independent Candidates 5.5% (up 0.5%).

• Mr Graeme Samuel was appointed as the permanent Head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

• The first military, police and security personnel arrived in the Solomon Islands as part of the plan to restore order to the nation. Police are likely to remain for some time but there were hopes that the combat role of the defence personnel would be over quickly.

• Australia and the Philippines signed a new pact to strengthen their battle against terrorism and transnational crime. The agreement builds on an earlier agreement to cooperate in the fight against terrorism.

• Official figures released in an ABS report revealed that almost half the increase in household incomes since the Howard Government took office has gone to the richest 20 per cent of households, and income inequality has steadily worsened. The ABS reported that in the five years to 2000-01, the real after-tax incomes of people in the poorest 20 per cent of households rose on average by 7 per cent, whereas those of people in the richest 20 per cent of households rose 17 per cent.

• The Department of Family and Community Services confirmed that officers assessing the 700,000-odd "dole diaries" were counting the number and type of contacts claimed but not cross-checking with employers to ensure that claimed job applications are valid.

• Treasurer Peter Costello pledged more resources to enforce the GST after it was reported that that crime syndicates are using sham companies and fake identities to defraud the Commonwealth of huge amounts of revenue.

• Labor pledged to create 40,000 extra University and TAFE places by 2008 as part of a $2.34 billion higher education package if it wins the next Federal Election. Opposition Leader Simon Crean claims this is a clear contrast to the Coalition on higher education. Labor also pledged to index some University funding and confirmed a commitment to abolish full-fee places for domestic students and oppose deregulation of HECS fees.

• Prime Minister John Howard and Communications Minister Richard Alston decided to set up an independent panel to sit in judgement on political balance at the ABC.

• The Australian Gene Technology Regulator announced that it had issued a licence for the commercial release of GM canola, the first genetically altered food crop to win approval.

Gary Morgan says:

"Since the end of the Iraq War, Morgan Poll Federal Voting Intention has been consistently showing a Federal Election would be too close to call. The only exception was when the then Governor-General Dr Peter Hollingworth resigned, at which time the ALP held a narrow lead over the Government. There have been no other issues in the last few months to stir up the mood of the electorate sufficiently to change the pattern of Voting Intention one way or another. Not even Labor's leadership challenge or the proposed changes to Medicare and Bulk Billing had any major effect on Australian electors' Voting Intention. However, the L-NP Coalition would still be more likely to win the next Federal Election on National Security issues than the ALP on Social Issues."

Over the two weekends, preferences of supporters of One Nation (L-NP — 70.5% cf ALP — 29.5%) favoured the Government. Preferences of supporters of the Greens (ALP — 78.5% cf L-NP — 21.5%), Australian Democrats (ALP — 72% cf L-NP — 28%) and Other Parties and Independent Candidates (ALP — 56% cf L-NP — 44%) favoured the Opposition.

This latest Morgan Poll on Federal Voting Intention was conducted face-to-face on the weekends of July 19/20 and July 26/27, 2003, with an Australia-wide cross-section of 2,132 electors. Electors were asked: "If a Federal election for the House of Representatives were being held today — which party would receive your first preference?" Of all electors surveyed, 4.5% (down 0.5%) did not name a party.