Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is shrugging off his 30th straight Newspoll loss after passing a milestone he cited when he challenged Tony Abbott for the prime ministership in 2015.
Cabinet ministers, including treasurer Scott Morrison and education minister Simon Birmingham, rallied around the prime minister, insisting he maintained the support of the party.
Supporters of Mr Abbott are calling for policy changes to reverse the Coalition's losing streak in the polls.
According to the latest Newspoll published in Monday's The Australian, the Coalition trails Labor 48-52 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.
However, the Coalition has narrowed the margin by one point from the previous poll.
Mr Turnbull laid out several reasons for challenging the sitting prime minister in 2015, which included Mr Abbott's loss of 30 Newspolls in a row.
On Sunday, Mr Turnbull told The Australian he was confident he had the backing of the partyroom and would be staying as leader to fight the election next year.
"I don't think there is anyone, frankly, suggesting I don't," Mr Turnbull said.
Abbott: I don't call journalists and whisper poison
Former prime minister Tony Abbott said he would not "obsess over polls" but called for the Coalition to reduce immigration and invest in coal-fired power to win back the support of voters.
"What we should be focused on is being the best possible government and winning an election," Mr Abbott told reporters on Monday morning, as he continues his 'pollie pedal' charity bike ride through the Latrobe Valley.
"We should be the party of low power prices, and that means more coal-fired baseload power generation in this country. We should be the party of higher wages and more affordable housing, and that means scaling back the current rate of immigration."
Mr Abbott said he would continue to be open and vocal about his disagreements on policy direction as a backbench member of the government.
"One of the differences between me and some of my colleagues is that if I've got something to say I don't ring up a journalist and whisper poison into their ears, I say it upfront, openly and I put my name to it," Mr Abbott said.
Abetz: Not aware of any move against Turnbull
Liberal senator and Abbott supporter Eric Abetz said he was “not aware of any move” against Turnbull’s leadership on the day of the prime minister’s 30thNewspoll loss, but repeated his calls for government investment in coal-fired power to win back the support of voters.
“Mr Turnbull, I believe, has the confidence of the party room,” the Tasmanian senator told ABC Radio on Monday morning.
“In those circumstances, he will continue to lead the party to the next election and I’m not aware of any move against his leadership.”
Senator Abetz said the government had delivered strong jobs growth but said more needed to be done on energy affordability.
"That is why in recent times myself and a few colleagues have been focusing on that issue."
Mr Abetz is among a group of Coalition MPs calling for a new coal-fired power station to be built in Australia, possibly with government assistance.
He said the government should put "pensioners before Paris", referring to the global climate change agreement Australia has signed, and said energy policy should not be restrained by "meaningless" carbon emission targets.
Turnbull focused on winning election
Malcolm Turnbull has acknowledged, without mentioning Mr Abbott, disruptions in the party were causing issues but said he was focused on winning the election due in the second half of next year.
"We are in a close, tight political environment. The next election is absolutely there to be won," he said.
"My job is not there to be distracted by polls, but to focus on our policies and on delivering for the Australian people."
He told News Corp tabloids opinion polls were not good predictors of actual election results.
"If opinion polls determined who would win elections," then "Kristina Keneally would be the member for Bennelong and Nick Xenophon... Premier of South Australia," Mr Turnbull said, in reference to opinion poll results that did not eventuate at the respective elections.
We have lost 30 Newspolls in a row. It is clear that the people have made up their mind about Mr Abbott's leadership MALCOLM TURNBULL, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015
What happened when Turnbull challenged Abbott
Back in September 2015, when Mr Turnbull announced he would challenge Mr Abbott for the leadership, he said:
"If we continue with Mr Abbott as prime minister it is clear enough what will happen. He will cease to be prime minister, and he will be succeeded by Mr Shorten."
"The one thing that is clear about our current situation is the trajectory. We have lost 30 Newspolls in a row. It is clear that the people have made up their mind about Mr Abbott's leadership," he said at the time.
Mr Abbott insists he is not about to challenge Mr Turnbull for a return.
"None of us should live in the past or dwell on things," Mr Abbott told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday before pushing off on the annual Pollie Pedal charity bike ride.
Mr Abbott has also been calling for a federally funded coal-powered generator and will be in Victoria's Latrobe Valley on Monday, where he reportedly wants the new plant to be built.
Labor leader Bill Shorten said on Sunday he didn't focus on opinion polls.
"I've made it a practice of not commenting on polls when the polls have been good, bad or indifferent," he told reporters in Perth at the start of a six-day tour of the West.
"Mr Turnbull obsesses about polls, as do the National and Liberal parties."
- With AAP
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