FEDERAL cabinet ministers insist the Labor leadership was settled a year ago as nervous government MPs prepare to meet ahead of parliament resuming on Tuesday.

The latest Newspoll, published in The Australian, offers a glimmer of hope for the government, with Labor and Prime Minister Julia Gillard benefiting from a bounce in voter support.

But Newspoll CEO Martin O'Shannessy says the government faces a mammoth task to win the September 14 election.

'KRudd needs to stop stalking the PM'

"Julia Gillard has had a number of bounces that haven't been sustained,'' he told Sky News.

Today's Newspoll, published in The Australian, puts Labor within striking distance of winning an election and has Ms Gillard back in front of Tony Abbott as preferred Prime Minister.

Ms Gillard's controversial crackdown on 457 visas for skilled foreign workers and her week-long visit to Labor's problem area of western Sydney appear to have driven the boost.

Newspoll shows support for Labor rose three points to 34 per cent while the Coalition fell three points to 44 per cent. The Greens were steady on 11 per cent.

In two-party terms, the Coalition's 10-point lead a fortnight ago has narrowed to four points with the Opposition ahead 52 to 48 per cent.

The poll showed Ms Gillard regaining her lead over Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister, 42 to 38 per cent.

It also showed that former prime minister Kevin Rudd would be a far more popular leader than Ms Gillard, potentially delivering a significant lift in support for Labor.

Tertiary Education Minister Chris Bowen, who supported Mr Rudd in a leadership ballot a year ago, is not backing any change at the top now.

"This matter was resolved last February,'' he told ABC radio.

"We've got to just stay focused on the job of governing.''

Cabinet colleague Craig Emerson was taking the same line when quizzed by reporters at Parliament House in Canberra: "What the Australian people want to hear and will get from this government is a conversation about them, not a conversation about ourselves.

"While ever we're talking about and implementing polices for the Australian people they respond positively.''

The Labor caucus is meeting on Tuesday morning.

The national poll was taken at the weekend at the same time Labor suffered a drubbing in the WA state election that sparked calls for Ms Gillard to quit.

Cabinet ministers Penny Wong, Peter Garrett, Bill Shorten and Craig Emerson rallied in support of Ms Gillard ahead of today's sitting of Federal Parliament.

Chatter about the leadership and calls in some quarters for a change is consuming the ALP. Some MPs said there was despair about the ALP's prospects at the September 14 Federal Election and "growing anticipation" of a circuit-breaker.

Senate leader Stephen Conroy said Ms Gillard "is the best leader" and said voters would dump Labor if it didn't pull itself together.

"If the Labor Party wants to keep talking about itself and the lint in its navel then the Australian public will treat it accordingly," he said.

The PM met senior MPs and faction chiefs yesterday but sources insisted it was a regular strategy meeting.

One of Ms Gillard's supporters said "there's no way she'll throw in the towel" like Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu last week.

MPs who want a return to Kevin Rudd insisted he would not challenge and one backer said he believed the former PM would not take the job unless it was clear cut and on his terms.

A rumour that spread through the ALP that Senator Conroy was sounding out numbers for a switch to install Mr Shorten as PM was dismissed as a prank.

Special Minister of State Gary Gray, from WA, who also supports Ms Gillard, gave an insight to the fragility in the caucus when he conceded a leadership ballot was a possibility.

But Mr Gray said the Howard government had faced seemingly sure election defeats in 2001 and 2004, yet still won.

"I believe not only can Julia Gillard win, I believe Julia Gillard is capable of governing not just for the next term, but for the one after that. She's a Prime Minister of great standing, great quality, great character and great tenacity," he said.