Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s popularity has taken off in the past five months, drawing level with Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the preferred Liberal Party leader stakes.
The pair have 20 per cent support apiece, according to a Fairfax Ipsos poll of 1401 conducted between Thursday and Sunday.
But Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull is still popular among the respondents with 35 per cent support.
Female voters heavily favour Mr Turnbull or Ms Bishop.
Treasurer Joe Hockey is draining support over the government’s tough budget, dipping from 11 per cent in July to eight per cent.
Meanwhile, federal Labor has recorded its best Newspoll result in more than three months.
According to the poll, conducted for The Australian last weekend, Labor’s primary vote rose two points in the last two weeks to 36 per cent – its highest level of support in three and a half months.
Coalition support remained steady at 38 per cent, while the Greens dropped one point to 13 per cent.
Independents and minor parties also fell one point, now sitting at 13 per cent. The poll gives Labor its 13th consecutive lead over the coalition in two-party-preferred terms.
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