Labor leader Bill Shorten says he doesn't need a poll to tell him the government is a "three-ring circus".
The Newspoll published in The Australian on Monday shows the coalition's primary support falling to 35 per cent while Labor's has risen to 38 per cent.
In two-party terms Labor leads 54 per cent to 46 per cent.
However, most voters continue to prefer Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister by 43 per cent to 33 per cent for Mr Shorten.
The poll came after a week focused on MPs' dual citizenship and a debate over the legality of the same-sex marriage national survey - both of which are being assessed by the High Court.
The opposition leader - who visited Qantas maintenance workers in Sydney on Monday - said voters wanted both major parties to focus on housing prices, wages, job security, energy prices and education.
"I don't need an opinion poll to tell me this government is a three-ring circus," Mr Shorten said.
"(Voters) want their politicians and parliamentarians to get on with business."
His comments were echoed by Liberal MP and assistant minister Craig Laundy.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull unveils a new counter-terrorism strategy in Sudney 20th Aug 2017. Source: AAP
"I know a lot of politicians gild the lily, but I'm not one of those - they're not good," Mr Laundy said of the polls on Sky News.
"I think they highlight the fact that we need to get our message through a lot more effectively than we have, and that is an economic narrative about the future of the country."
He said the "oxygen is being sucked up" by issues that did not register in areas like his Sydney electorate of Reid.
However, asked whether same-sex marriage was one of the issues not registering with voters, he disagreed.
"The history books will show we did our best to adhere to an election promise and deliver something to the Australian people which they want, and that is a say ... in this decision," Mr Laundy said.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's controversial stunt involving wearing a burqa does not appear to have dented her party's prospects, with its primary vote rising one point to nine per cent over the fortnight.
