Voters might prefer Opposition Leader Bill Shorten but there is no doubt Prime Minister Tony Abbott is up to the job, the Liberal Party faithful have heard.
Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane said Labor is not ready for government.
"Bill Shorten is not up to it," he told the party's federal council meeting on Friday, before playing a Shorten attack ad.
"He is a weak leader in charge of a divided and directionless party."
Liberals federal president Richard Alston said leadership matters - whether it is in national security or in economic management.
"People now have fundamental doubts about Bill Shorten, but whether they like it or not, no one doubts that Tony Abbott is up for the job," Mr Alston told the meeting.
A new opinion poll shows Labor remains ahead of the coalition, with a two-party preferred lead of 52 per cent to 48.
The Seven ReachTel poll also shows voters prefer Mr Shorten over Mr Abbott as prime minister, at 56.3 per cent to 43.7 per cent, despite the opposition leader's recent woes.
Mr Loughnane said planning has begun on the campaign, while Labor and its union mates are already out campaigning.
"While the election may be 15 months away, the campaign on the ground has begun," he said.
Senior government figures are talking down the prospect of an early election but the next federal poll - due about September 2016 - is dominating the two-day federal council meeting in Melbourne.
Mr Loughnane said it would be very dangerous to think a weak and directionless Labor Party is unelectable.
"Labor and their allies are a formidable and well-resourced political machine."
He said there will be a massive campaign from the unions and Labor, who would run an intense scare campaign on industrial relations.
He also suggested Labor will do a deal with the Greens.
"Does anyone really believe Bill Shorten and Labor won't do another deal with the Greens if that's what it takes to sneak into government?"
Mr Alston said the party's fundraising is proceeding according to plan and the party should be energised to ensure it is well prepared for the campaign.
"I don't need to tell you that opponents are always well prepared and very well resourced, and therefore at every level we need to be on our vigorous guard, we need to be acting to put in place all the necessary ingredients to win the election and hold government, not just for ourselves but for Australia," he said.
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