Shorten pips Abbott as preferred prime minister: poll

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has regained his longstanding edge over Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister, a new poll shows.

After dropping behind in May for the first time in more than a year, the latest Fairfax-Ipsos poll, puts the Labor leader in front of Mr Abbott by one point at 42 percent.

The phone-poll which surveyed 1401 people nationwide found Labor's share of the two-party-preferred vote also improved, standing at 53 percent to 47 percent for the Coalition.

Labor's primary vote however continues to languish at just 37 percent while the Coalition's primary vote has dropped three percentage points to 40 percent.

Seven out of 10 voters also now disagree with Mr Abbott's refusal to legalise same-sex marriage, while just 29 percent of capital city residents believe housing is affordable for prospective first home-buyers.