A new opinion poll has voter support for Labor plunging even further amid concerns over the party's carbon tax plan, with the party holding just 26 per cent of the primary vote.

The Nielsen poll published in today's Fairfax newspapers has the Coalition leading 61 per cent to 39 per cent on the two-party preferred vote - an 11-point swing to the Opposition since the election last August.

The poll shows the Coalition has now reached 51 per cent in the primary vote standings.

The poll also suggests 56 per cent of voters want a fresh election, while 53 per cent believe they would be worse off with a carbon tax.

Nielsen pollster John Stirton says the figures show the Coalition is "travelling very well".

He says the two-party figures show the Coalition is headed into uncharted waters in terms of the level of its popularity.

"[Former Labor PM] Kevin Rudd was ahead 61-39 during his extended honeymoon as Opposition leader, but I don't think we have ever seen the Coalition ahead by this much," he told AM.

"We haven't done a calculation on the seats, but the Government would be wiped out [in an election], similar to the results in the New South Wales election in March. It is a significant swing of 11 per cent on a two-party preferred basis against the Government."

For the first time, Tony Abbott is the voter's preferred choice as prime minister. He is now at 51 per cent, up five points, and 11 points clear of Julia Gillard.

Mr Stirton says Labor can take some comfort from the fact that the next election is still two years away, but says the figures are still "diabolical" for the ALP.

"The cliche is, and it is true, that a week is a long time in politics, so two years is an eternity," he said.

"Anything can happen between now and then. The carbon tax presumably will be introduced, the compensation package will be introduced ... but having said that, these sort of numbers are, to be quite honest, diabolical for Labor and it is going to be hard from here.

"John Howard famously came back from very low numbers in April 2001 to win the 2001 election, some say under the extraordinary circumstances of September 11 and Tampa, but he was on the way back before those events.

"So it is recoverable, but it is going to take something extraordinary. But there are two years to do it, and two years is a very long time."

Australia's carbon pricing scheme is due to start in July next year, but the Opposition has been demanding the policy be taken to an election first.

Ms Gillard says she is not surprised by the figures and has vowed to continue to explain the carbon tax to voters.

"Politics is a marathon, it's not a sprint, and democracy's not one long opinion poll," she said.

"It's actually about showing the leadership that's necessary for the country's future and that's what I'm doing as prime minister.

"I was determined to make this change for the country's future and I remain determined.

"We'll keep [getting] out there explaining. I'm not surprised that with so much anxiety around that we've got to keep out there explaining this to people.

"I said a while back that this was tough and it's going to get tougher. This is a big reform for our country's future. I'm determined to deliver it."