Aug 23 (Reuters) - Australian shares are set to open slightly higher on Thursday, with rising oil prices benefiting energy stocks, but political uncertainty over Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's government may unnerve investor sentiment.
The local share price index futures YAPcm1 rose 0.3 percent, a 13-point discount to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO close. The benchmark fell 0.3 percent on Wednesday.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 was 0.3 percent lower in early trade.