Baird throws his support behind Abbott

NSW Premier Mike Baird is still strongly backing Tony Abbott as prime minister, despite Mr Abbott's growing unpopularity among voters.

"There were many people that said he could never lead the party, there were many people that said he could never be an effective opposition leader and then the same people said he would never be prime minister," Mr Baird told reporters in Sydney.

"He has proven them wrong at every turn and I expect him to continue to prove those doubters wrong."

Mr Baird's electorate in Sydney's north overlaps with Mr Abbott's.

Such has been the deepening dislike for Mr Abbott, he didn't make an appearance during Campbell Newman's doomed attempt to retain office in Queensland.

In the past 12 months, Labor has claimed election victories in South Australia and Victoria and is on course to form government in Queensland.