Fresh poll gives PM breathing space from leadership talk

A rare positive poll result for Prime Minister Tony Abbott has turned the volume down on talk of a leadership spill – but he still trails members of his own party as preferred leader.

The Coalition’s primary vote is up four percent to 49 percent, while Labor went down four percent to 36 percent.

After preferences, the government has also closed the gap, trailing Labor 51-49 percent.

Despite the leadership crisis, Tony Abbott has closed the gap on Bill Shorten as preferred Prime Minister, trailing the Labor leader 44-39 percent.

However, Mr Abbott is backed by only 19 percent as preferred Liberal leader, compared to 39 percent who want Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and 24 percent for Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Coalition MPs are tomorrow expected to agree to send more troops to Iraq and finally axe the Medicare co-payment.