Abbott speech aims to regain lost ground

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will seek to focus the political spotlight on jobs and families, rather than knighthoods, when he delivers a major speech next week.

Mr Abbott is preparing to address the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday, a week before parliament resumes.

The speech, which will outline his priorities for 2015, comes as the furore over his decision to award a knighthood to Prince Philip continues to dog the prime minister.

Two polls released this week show Labor well ahead of the coalition in two-party terms.

There have been calls from conservative commentators and News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch for Mr Abbott's chief of staff, Peta Credlin, to quit or be sacked following a series of government stumbles.

But Labor leader Bill Shorten says Mr Abbott should carry the blame.

Health Minister Sussan Ley says the government has time to recover.

"Sometimes you can make a silly drop shot in the middle of the game and you can win that game and go on and win the match," she said.