Scott Morrison's government is well behind in the polls and the Liberals have been smashed in Victoria, but he's taking inspiration from a Labor premier.
The prime minister compared himself to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews - a preferred leader who won an election off a strong economy and job growth.
But while Mr Morrison has doubled his lead over Labor leader Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister, his party, unlike Mr Andrews', is trailing dismally in the polls.
The latest Newspoll has the federal coalition at an election-losing primary vote of 34 per cent, a near-record low and the third fall in a row.
Mr Morrison had not publicly acknowledged Labor's thumping state election win, but in question time he drew the parallels between his government and Mr Andrews'.
"An incumbent government, running a strong economy, with a preferred premier and delivering services and infrastructure for the people they intend to serve," Mr Morrison said in parliament on Monday.
"Now who does that sound like? Our government is running a strong economy.
"Our government is delivering infrastructure and services that the Australian people respect and want more of."
The Victorian result sparked a crisis meeting of Liberal MPs in Canberra, with many federal MPs facing a wipeout if the state swing is repeated federally.
Before the meeting, senior Victorian senator Scott Ryan cautioned against Liberals telling people they are "not conservative enough".
"Labelling people, dismissing them, that's not the Liberal way. I want to cast the net wide in the Menzies and Howard tradition, to give people a reason to be Liberals," Senator Ryan told ABC radio.
"Not come up with litmus tests ... that is not the path to electoral success."
Senator Ryan said the Victorian result saw swings in a swag of "seats that are the cradle of the Liberal Party".
Mr Morrison's lead as preferred prime minister over Mr Shorten jumped to 46-34, but his coalition trails Labor on a two-party-preferred basis by 45 to 55 per cent.
He accused Mr Shorten of being "cocky" about the next election, but the Labor leader played down his chances.
"What we're going to do is take nothing for granted," Mr Shorten told Sky News.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Labor "shamelessly and wrongly" attacked the coalition on health and education.
"We were beaten pretty comprehensively in the campaign itself, both on the ground and in the advertising," Mr Frydenberg said.
Former Nationals leader and now backbencher Barnaby Joyce said his party's vote had held up well, but he admitted the result showed the federal election will be difficult.
