Malcolm Turnbull remains the most popular leader of the Liberal party, preferred by 24% of voters, but Tony Abbott has gained ground since his leadership woes in February and is now preferred by 17%, according to the latest Essential poll.

Bill Shorten is the most popular choice as Labor leader – but is still preferred by only 16% of voters – with 13% choosing Tanya Plibersek and 12% Anthony Albanese. The most popular responses for Labor leader were someone else (18%) and don’t know (36%). That means more than half of the poll’s respondents did not nominate a preferred Labor leader at all.

When asked about the Liberal leadership, 13% wanted “someone else” and 22% said they didn’t know.

The poll, which showed Labor with an unchanged overall lead of 53% to 47%, in two-party preferred terms, also sought voter reactions to emerging battlelines for the federal election due next year.

The handling of asylum seekers was for 29%“one of the most important issues” facing Australia and 37% said it was “quite important”.

Also, 37% said the Liberal’s were best equipped to handle the issue, with only 12% nominating Labor and 8% the Greens; 24% said “none of them”.

Of those who thought the asylum seeker issue was one of or the most important election issue, 46% said the Liberals had the best policy, 15% thought Labor did and 12% Greens.

Labor’s 50% renewable energy goal was popular with voters – 65% approved of the policy and only 16% disapproved, even though 51% accepted it would lead to higher electricity costs.