Budget gets swinging voters on side

Swinging voters upset with the Abbott government's first budget say its second attempt imposes less direct pain and proves ministers had learnt their lesson.

Focus group testing by Fairfax Media of swinging voters shows the 2015 budget, which included tax cuts for small business and new childcare measures, is being viewed more favourably than the 2014 papers.

The research comes after two post-budget opinion polls showed a boost in popularity for Prime Minister Tony Abbott and a tighter race between the government and opposition.