Early voting begins in Australia election with opposition ahead in polls

FILE PHOTO: Australian incumbent Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese debate on live television ahead of the 2022 federal election, in Sydney, Australia May 8, 2022. James Brickwood/Pool via REUTERS

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Early voting began in Australia on Monday two weeks ahead of election day, with surveys showing the opposition centre-left Labor Party extending its lead and Prime Minister Scott Morrison suffering a fall in his approval rating.

Amid a campaign dominated by cost-of-living pressure, national security and climate change, a widely watched survey conducted for The Australian newspaper showed Labor leading 54%-46% on a two-party preferred basis against the Morrison-led Liberal Party-National Party coalition government.