The latest Newspoll placed the Coalition behind Labor on a two-party preferred basis, 45 per cent to 55 per cent respectively.
The polling, published by News Corp on Tuesday, outlined the government's primary support at 38 per cent, below its 45.6 per cent election result.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott spoke on the polling on Tuesday, saying the government was doing the “right thing” by voters.
Addressing media in Western Australia, Mr Abbott said he knew that his government’s action were at times unpopular.
“I don't pretend that everything this Government has put forward is popular,” he said.
“…Every day we are governing this country in the best interests of the Australian people and I think that's what the public want from us.
“They don't want a Government which obsesses about opinion polls. They want a Government which is focused every day on them.”
Mr Abbott’s personal satisfaction level increased in the latest Newspoll, up three points to 28 per cent.
His dissatisfaction rating also fell, dropping from the record-high of 68 per cent to 63 per cent.
The shift comes as a senior government backbencher says Mr Abbott has started to turn over a new leaf.
Speaking on ABC television on Monday, Arthur Sinodinos said Mr Abbott had “heeded the message and changed his behaviour”.
“So we're all getting behind him to make sure that that change works,” he said.
Backbenchers now felt free to take complaints about the operation of the prime minister's office directly to him, Mr Sinodinos said.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's satisfaction rating also increased, by four points to 39 per cent. His dissatisfaction level dropped seven points to 42 per cent.
With AAP.
Share
