Joe Hockey was also more popular than Mr Abbott, with 39 per cent rating the Treasurer's performance positively and 37 per cent negatively. Forty-six per cent of respondents had a negative view of Mr Abbott's performance, compared with 38 per cent with a positive view. Mr Pyne was the least popular of the four; only 30 per cent approved of his performance while 43 per cent disapproved.

When voters were asked to give the men a score out of 10, Mr Turnbull, who is Communications Minister, received an average score of 5.2. Mr Hockey received 4.8, Mr Abbott 4.3, and Mr Pyne 4.1. The Abbott government received an average score of 4.4.

The poll found that 63 per cent of voters believed the Abbott government should fund the Gonski schools package in full for six years while 37 per cent said that would be unaffordable. The government has committed to only four full years of Gonski funding.

Seventy-five per cent of people said the public school system needed more funding, compared with 28 per cent who said the private school sector needed more funding. Forty-seven per cent of respondents said the level of funding for public schools was too low and only 1 per cent said it was too high. Thirty-seven per cent said the funding for private schools was too high while 7 per cent said it was too low.

The poll found 47 per cent of people believed Opposition Leader Bill Shorten would prioritise investing in public schools in their area, compared with 27 per cent for Mr Abbott. Fifty-seven per cent believed Mr Abbott would prioritise elite private schools compared to 10 per cent for Mr Shorten. Forty-nine per cent said Mr Abbott would prioritise Catholic schools, compared with 17 per cent for Mr Shorten.