Most Australians want a national vote on legalising same-sex marriage before any decision is made by politicians, a new poll has shown.
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Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is ahead of Mr Abbott as preferred PM, with 45 per cent compared to the prime minister’s 39 per cent.
On the major issues, the poll found overwhelming support for same sex marriage with 69 per cent supportive and just 25 per cent opposed.
The poll in Sydney Morning Herald puts the government eight points behind Labor on 46/54.
That would mean the loss of up to 36 Coalition seats – Labor needs just 21 to form a majority government.
The call came as a new poll gave Labor a 54-46 per cent two-party preferred lead over the coalition and as same-sex marriage looked set to dominate parliament and Monday’s cabinet meeting.
The government has endured several nightmare weeks, embroiled in the expenses row that led to the resignation of Bronwyn Bishop as Speaker, engaging in open internal conflict over same-sex marriage and fending off claims of partisanship against the trade union royal commissioner, Dyson Heydon.
The government’s primary support has dipped to 38 per cent – just two points above Labor’s 36 per cent, while the Greens are on 16 per cent.
Neither leader is very popular.
Labor leader Bill Shorten is also in the red with more voters disapproving than approving but his is less severe with 39 per cent in favour – up 4 percentage points – and 49 per cent disapproving for a net rating of minus 10. Joe Hockey, who is no longer seen as a possibility if there was a leadership change, is also on 5%.
Worse news for Mr Abbott – who is a year-and-a-half away from a key election – is that his approach also goes down badly with his own voters.
Social Services Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra, 700 days into Mr Abbott’s prime ministership, the government was focused on jobs.
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They also note it was the Prime Minister himself who earlier this year stated there was no need for any constitutional change on marriage law as it was already clearly established to be the province of the national Parliament.
