Abbott back to election winning level of popularity

SUPPORT for the Abbott Government has returned to levels not seen since the September poll that got the Coalition elected, a poll released Monday found.

The Fairfax-Nielsen poll found the two-party preferred stakes returned to 52% support for the Coalition, with Labor on 48%.

That result followed Prime Minister Tony Abbott's announcement of a Royal Commission into unions, and put Mr Abbott steady on 49% as preferred PM.

It noted a resurgence in the Coalition's popularity, after polls in the weeks after the election showed the government had little, if any, electoral honeymoon.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's popularity also took a hit in the Nielsen poll, down two points to 39% as preferred Prime Minister.