Cabinet minister Greg Hunt has played down a dip in Malcolm Turnbull's approval rating, which has fallen for the first time since he became prime minister six months ago.
But the latest Newspoll shows the coalition leading Labor 51-49 per cent after preferences.
The poll of 2049 voters also shows 55 per cent of voters think the coalition will be returned at the next election while only 25 per cent believe Labor can win.
Satisfaction with Mr Turnbull's performance has fallen to 39 per cent, well down on his 60 per cent rating in mid-November.
Mr Hunt said the government was building a road map for the nation.
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"We're actually very calm and very focused," he told Sky News on Monday.
The public did not tolerate complacency, so the government was concentrating on the lives, jobs and futures of voters.
Dissatisfaction with Mr Turnbull has risen three points to 44 per cent, leaving his net satisfaction rating at minus five points.
But he remains by far the preferred prime minister, leading Bill Shorten 52-21 per cent.
The poll also shows 54 per cent think Mr Turnbull is most capable of handling the economy as opposed to the 20 per cent who favour Mr Shorten.
On tax reform, 45 per cent of voters back Mr Turnbull compared to 25 per cent for Mr Shorten.
