Liberal voters are split over whether Tony Abbott should be dumped as leader.
The latest Essential poll published on Tuesday found 48 per cent of coalition voters believed Mr Abbott should stay on as leader until the next election due in 2016.
But 34 per cent said he should be given six months to improve and 14 per cent said he should be removed immediately.
Thirty-nine per cent of all voters said he should be replaced as soon as possible, while 22 per cent gave him six months and 28 per cent said he should be kept on to the election.
Asked whether Mr Abbott would still be leader at the election, 61 per cent said no, including 40 per cent of coalition voters.
The poll's two-party result put Labor in the lead 54-46.
In a positive for the government, the Liberal Party was seen as significantly more trustworthy to handle national security, the economy, interest rates and asylum seekers.
But Labor was seen as better in the areas of education, health, industrial relations and jobs.
As debate continued over where Australia's next generation submarine fleet will be built, the most favoured position (37 per cent) was building them in Australia even if they cost more than overseas.
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