PM not worried about opinion poll

Prime Minister Tony Abbott isn't about to start worrying over opinion polls, saying everything his government does is for the long-term good of Australians.

A ReachTEL poll for Fairfax Media on Sunday finds Labor leads the government 53 per cent to 47 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has also extended his lead over Mr Abbott, by 58.5 per cent to 41.5 per cent as preferred prime minister.

Asked if he was worried about the scandal over politicians travel entitlements impacting on his standing, Mr Abbott said: "It's never about me."

"While you have good days and better days in a job like this, as far as I'm concerned, every day should be about doing the right thing by the people of Australia," he told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.

He said occasionally there were distractions such as those in the past couple of weeks.

"The important thing is not to allow the distractions to stop you from getting on with the job of governing," he said.