Abbott takes another battering in polls with Shorten leading as preferred PM

The prime minister continues to take a battering in the polls, with Labor leader Bill Shorten well ahead of Tony Abbott as the nation's preferred leader, according to an Ipsos poll published by Fairfax.

In a survey conducted just four weeks ago, the two leaders were level pegging on 41 percent each, but now Mr Shorten is out-performing the prime minister by 47 to 39 percent.

On a two-party preferred basis Ipsos shows Labor leading the coalition 53 to 47 percent - slightly behind the latest Galaxy poll, which put the opposition ahead of the government 55 to 45 percent.

The government has been battling lately with its image, following the stalling of important budget measures in the Senate and the coalition defeat in Victoria after just one term.