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Support for Labor is at its lowest ebb since the 2022 election, although the coalition has failed to reap the benefits as voters swing to independents and minor parties, according to the latest Newspoll.

Labor's primary vote has fallen two points to 36 per cent, according to the poll published in The Australian on Monday - its weakest result since it won office with base support of 32.6 per cent.

The Newspoll came just after the coalition's victory at the Fadden by-election on Saturday, with Cameron Caldwell claiming the Gold Coast electorate with a more than two per cent swing to the opposition.

However, the coalition has lost ground nationally, falling to 34 per cent after damning findings against it at the robodebt royal commission.

Australians appear to be pulling their support from the major parties to express their frustration over their politicking over the commission's findings and the voice to parliament, instead of focusing on the cost of living crisis.

The survey showed a three-point rise in support for minor parties and independents.

Support for the Greens and Pauline Hanson's One Nation each rose a point to 12 and seven per cent respectively. Support for other minor parties and independents also rose a point to 11 per cent.

Labor has improved its two-party-preferred margin over the coalition by two points to 55-45 according to the poll of 1570 Australian voters, conducted between July 12 and 15.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the results from the Fadden by-election were largely expected and that the outcome was not driven by concerns over cost of living issues.

"The matters aren't necessarily linked, but we are certainly focused on cost of living pressures," she told ABC radio.

"I think in relation to that by-election it was an expected outcome from our point of view and we ran an excellent candidate."

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said cost of living issues were front of mind for voters.

"Inflationary pressures are biting deep and hard. It's what Australians want to deal with," he said.

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie said worsening economic conditions would make the major parties' seats "ripe for the picking" for independents.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese's approval ratings are largely unchanged, remaining at 52 per cent - the lowest level since he was elected in May last year.

His dissatisfaction rating dropped a point to 41 per cent, giving him a net approval rating of plus 11.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's approval ratings fell two points to 36 per cent, while his dissatisfaction rating was unchanged from last month's poll at 49 per cent. His net approval rating is minus 13.

The preferred prime minister ratings reflected these results with Mr Albanese lifting two points to 54 per cent and Mr Dutton dropping three points to 29 per cent.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said despite the government losing ground, Labor was unconcerned by the result.

"Polls jump around all the time and we don't take too much notice of it, it's still a very strong position for the government," she told Seven's Sunrise program on Monday.

But Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said it was due to cost of living concerns that some voters had turned away from the government.

"Power prices, food prices, fuel prices, rent, the Labor Party seems to be oblivious to that, and the polls are now reflecting their oblivion."

© AAP 2023

A man has surrendered to police after a nine-hour siege in Brisbane's north side.

The siege began around 3pm on Sunday, with a police exclusion zone imposed until a 33-year-old man in a Nundah unit surrendered without incident at 12.07am on Monday.

Police had earlier said the man "may be armed, dangerous and a potential risk to the community" and was wanted for a number of weapons and criminal offences.

© AAP 2023

As a young boy, like many others, Rod Hannifey was enamoured with big trucks.

It fuelled a curiosity about the vehicles and those who drove them that ran deeper than most.

"The bloke down the road actually had trucks, and I went down there and asked what he did and how it all worked," he says.

Mr Hannifey went on to fulfil his childhood dream, and has ridden the long open roads for the past 30 years.

But the job isn't all it's cracked up to be.

The industry is facing a mental health crisis.

Long periods away from family and friends, often by himself, means Mr Hannifey has missed out on his kids' parties and school events.

"I live in this truck five or six nights a week," he tells AAP.

"I've left home to be away for a day and come home in three weeks.

"Once in a blue moon, I'm the odd bloke out because I happen to be home. It leaves you with that feeling of guilt."

The 66-year-old laments the often thankless role he plays in helping to keep the nation running and the immense toll the job takes on truckies like him.

Navigating a 65-tonne rig alongside other drivers on the road, and restrictive regulations imposed on heavy vehicle drivers have added to the mental burden.

"Every day someone tries to kill you," he says of the dangers posed by other drivers.

"They obviously don't go out with that intent, but they make a mistake or they don't understand trucks properly.

"And you have to live with it. You have to deal with it every second - it loads the stress."

Years ago, kids would stand on the side of the road and pretend to pull air horns with dreams of one day being behind the wheel, he says.

"Now they've grown up and most truckies tell their kids they shouldn't drive trucks because it's such a hard life."

Mental health problems are among the top three health risks for truckies but Mr Hannifey is on a one-man quest to alter that, one conversation at a time.

In a first, Australian radio communications company GME and Rural Outreach Counselling have teamed up to break the stigma surrounding mental health issues by bringing support directly into drivers' cabs.

The Open Road Open Up initiative will allow truck drivers to dial into channel 24 on their radios to chat with Mr Hannifey about their issues and be referred to appropriate mental health assistance.

"I'm not on every road, and I'm not gonna see every truck driver, but if they come up behind me and see the sign (on the back of my truck), it might just be the thing that gives them the idea to open up," he says.

According to the government's Driving Health report, half of all truck drivers report some level of psychological distress while on the road.

One in five drivers under the age of 35 reported severe distress, almost double the national average for males of the same age.

Rural Outreach Counselling president David Post, a former truckie himself, tells AAP he's experienced the same isolation that plagues many in the industry.

"What we're trying to do is short-circuit the system so if someone wants to talk, through Rod, it'll allow them to make contact with a professional very quickly," Mr Post says.

"He will do an amazing job of connecting with people because he understands through the many hours he sits behind that wheel."

The National Road Transport Association says soaring inflation, disrupted supply lines, driver shortages, sky-high fuel prices and diminishing financial returns are generating a perfect storm.

"We hear stories every day about road transport operators having a hard time and it seems like the bad news is never-ending," chief executive Warren Clarke tells AAP.

"Factor in ever-mounting red tape and a regulatory regime focused on punishment for even the most trivial administrative offence, and you start to appreciate how tough it is to be a truckie."

GME's Tony Crooke acknowledges truckies spend lots of time on the open road in remote regional areas, often without phone reception.

"Staying in touch can mean the difference between life and death," he says.

Mr Post agrees, saying once people start ruminating when they become isolated, it can snowball into depression.

With the industry overwhelmingly male-dominated, Mr Hannifey says drivers are often reluctant to open up to someone they perceive to have a lack of lived experience.

"If they see (the Open Road Open Up sign) on a truck, and they're following me, they know I'm a truck driver. I'm not a counsellor driving a truck."

While the initiative is limited at this stage to the roads Mr Hannifey travels, he wants drivers to know they're not alone - even if they're on the other side of the country.

"Give me a call and say g'day but if you don't see me and you've got a problem, talk to someone," he says.

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© AAP 2023