Shorten and Abbott neck-and-neck in unpopularity, says poll

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Bill Shorten would be Prime Minister if an election was held today, according to the latest Newspoll, but only just.

The poll was published in The Australian on Monday morning.

Voters are increasingly satisfied with the performance of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, while fewer are happy with Mr Shorten's record.

The pair are equally liked, but Mr Abbott is still disliked more, with 59% of voters unhappy with the Prime Minister's efforts against the 51% wary of Mr Shorten.

Since February, the PM's satisfaction rating has gone steadily up as he detractors slowly fall away.

Over the same period, voters are slowly abandoning Mr Shorten, as his critics increase.

Mr Shorten is still considered the better Prime Minister with 41% support against Mr Abbott's 40%.

For Mr Abbott, this is a four-month high. For Mr Shorten, it is a four-month low.

The Coalition is now five points ahead of Labor in the primary vote (41-36) but on two-party preferred, Labor edges ahead 51-49.