Commission will damage Shorten: Fitzgibbon

Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon says the unions royal commission is likely to damage leader Bill Shorten but he's doing a good job.

Newspoll results show Labor leader Bill Shorten's satisfaction rating is at a record low. (AAP)

A Labor frontbencher concedes Bill Shorten's imminent appearance at the royal commission into union corruption will "take a bit of bark off" the opposition leader.

Two opinion polls published on Monday show both Mr Shorten and Prime Minister Tony Abbott are deeply unpopular with the public, although both surveys put Labor ahead of the coalition.

Asked where Labor would be if it had a popular leader, Joel Fitzgibbon told reporters in Canberra the party had a very good leader now and it was no wonder Mr Abbott was "throwing the kitchen sink" at Mr Shorten.