MALCOLM Turnbull’s standing as preferred prime minister has dipped, the latest Newspoll shows, although the coalition has maintained its core support at 36 per cent.

Mr Turnbull’s popularity has dipped one percentage point, to 41 per cent to 33 per cent for Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who is up two percentage points from three weeks ago.

Labor’s lead in two-party terms is solid despite a percentage point drop in its core support, from 38 per cent to 37, according to the poll conducted exclusively for The Australian shows.

It leads the coalition 54 per cent to 46 despite major government decisions in the past three weeks on private health insurance, domestic gas supply and funding for critical medications.

As the deadline approaches of 30 poor Newspolls in a row — a reason Mr Turnbull gave for ousting his predecessor — former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was “almost impossible” to imagine a return to the top job.

Asked about it on 2GB radio this morning, Mr Abbott said the only way he was likely to return as Liberal leader was to be drafted by his federal colleagues.

He downplayed the significance of today’s poll, saying: “I think the focus shouldn’t be on the polls the focus should be on being the best possible government.”

Meanwhile, the minor parties have continued to gain ground.

The Greens are up one percentage point to 10 per cent, helping Labor to keep its lead on the coalition in two-party preferred terms.

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party has increased its support from 8 to 9 per cent in the same period.

The latest survey is the 21st consecutive Newspoll in which the coalition has trailed Labor, a tally used against Mr Turnbull by his critics because he cited the loss of “30 Newspolls in a row” as a reason for challenging Tony Abbott in September 2015.

The Australian reports there are fears the coalition is losing supporters because of internal divisions, the rise of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, and the Australian Conservatives led by former Liberal senator Cory Bernardi.

Read more at The Australian.