Abbott and Shorten equally unpopular in latest poll

Neither political leader is winning over voters but Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten are neck and neck in the popularity race, a new poll shows.

Just 13 percent of voters interviewed in the latest Morgan Poll prefer Mr Abbott as prime minister, while 12 percent believe Mr Shorten is the right man for Labor's top job.

Mr Shorten has taken a fall in the latest poll - nine per cent of voters have abandoned him as their preferred leader since April.

This follows his being summoned to the witness box at the royal commission on trade unions and the revelation of an undeclared $40,000 campaign donation.

His leadership will be under the microscope over the next few days as he faces at least one internal fight over his backflip to support a policy of turning back asylum-seeker boats.

Voters would rather see deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek (26 percent) or Anthony Albanese (19 percent) take the opposition's reins, according to the survey.

Mr Abbott has improved his popularity by one per cent since April but is yet to reach the levels he attained in the weeks before he survived a spill motion, when 14 percent of voters wanted him as prime minister.

His biggest competitor remains former leader Malcolm Turnbull, who increased his popularity by seven percent to win over 44 percent of voters for the nation's top gig.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop lost favour with 12 percent of voters, slipping from 27 percent to 15 percent.

Treasurer Joe Hockey, Social Services Minister Scott Morrison and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce secured five percent each in the choice for preferred leader.

About 580 people were interviewed for the poll across Australia.