Voters have overwhelmingly rebuffed the government's so-called "vendetta" on green groups, with new polling showing 70 per cent oppose any move to deny charity status to environment groups.

Removing such groups' charity status, first proposed by key Tony Abbott backer Andrew Nikolic,​ could cost them hundreds of millions of dollars in tax-deductible income, and severely restrict their capacity to campaign on environmental issues.

Tony Abbott was scathing of legal wrangling by environment groups to delay a proposal for a huge expansion of coal exports through the Great Barrier Reef.

Pressure has been building on the government to abandon the proposed changes, with Labor and the Greens flagging they will oppose any moves it makes on the matter.

Environment groups believe the proposal is designed to strip them of their ability to campaign against mining projects.