Coalition voters are split over whether Tony Abbott should be dumped as party leader.
The latest Essential poll, published on Tuesday afternoon, found 48% of Coalition voters believed Abbott should stay on as leader until the next election, due in 2016.
But 34% said he should be given six months to improve and 14% said he should be removed immediately.
Of all voters, 39% said he should be replaced as soon as possible, while 22% gave him six months and 28% said he should be kept on until the election.
Asked whether Abbott would still be leader at the election, 61% said no, including 40% of Coalition voters.
The poll’s two-party result put Labor in the lead 54% to 46%. However, the Liberal party was seen as significantly more trustworthy to handle national security, the economy, interest rates and asylum seekers.
Labor was seen as better in the areas of education, health, industrial relations and jobs.
As debate continues over where Australia’s next-generation submarine fleet will be built, the most favoured position among voters (37%) was building them in Australia, even if that meant they cost more than if they were built overseas.
thought this might interest you Icy, a poll amongst LNP voters