Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian prime minister, on Monday averted a possible leadership challenge by dropping targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions to appease his critics, as a poll showed support for his government slipping.

Conservatives in his coalition were reportedly sounding out colleagues for a possible leadership challenge before Mr Turnbull on Monday announced the removal of emission reduction targets from the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) policy.

Under headlines such as "PM's leadership on knife edge" major papers said some government members were gauging support for Peter Dutton, the home affairs minister, to replace Mr Turnbull. Mr Dutton said he supported the prime minister.

Asked whether his leadership was under threat, Mr Turnbull declared: "I enjoy the confidence of the cabinet and my party room".

The leadership talk was fuelled by an Ipsos poll published in Fairfax newspapers, which showed support for Mr Turnbull's Liberal-National coalition falling four points to 45 percent, 10 points behind opposition party Labor and enough for a crushing electoral defeat. The next election is due by 2019.