Tony Abbott has lost 15 staff from his personal office in the nearly two years since being elected - more than a quarter of the overall total.

And another four staff have left the Prime Minister's office and moved over to the cabinet office, which works closely with Mr Abbott's staff but is considered to be one step removed from the frontline.

Among those who have left the Prime Minister's office are senior policy advisers and a majority of the senior media advisers. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

An analysis of staff directories marked "confidential" and "for the use of Coalition members, senators and their staff only", leaked to Fairfax Media, reveals that between December 2013 and November 2014, Mr Abbott's office grew from 53 to 56 people but that 15 people departed.

Among those who left were senior policy advisers and a majority of the senior media advisers in the Prime Minister's press office.