Election a few months away: Robb

Trade Minister Andrew Robb signals a "very important" federal election may only be a few months away.

Trade Minister Andrew Robb says a TPP deal is a fifty-fifty chance. (AAP) Source: AAP

Absentee cabinet minister Andrew Robb has let slip a federal election may be just a few months away.

The trade minister, speaking from Indonesia, missed the Turnbull cabinet's first meeting on Monday.

Mr Robb, speaking to ABC radio on Tuesday about a Newspoll bounce for the coalition said: "We've got just a few months before the very important election."