By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths
Photo: The poll puts Labor in front of the Coalition just two-and-a-half months after the election. (AAP: Daniel Munoz, file image)
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Federal Labor has moved to a four-point lead over the Coalition Government on a two-party preferred basis in the first Fairfax-Nielsen poll since the September 7 election.
Pollster John Stirton says the turnaround is a surprise because government's tend to poll "quite strongly" in their first year.
"It is a surprising result and I think in that case it's always wise to wait and see if it's confirmed by further polling," he told the ABC's AM program.
"But it does suggest that the Abbott Government is having one of the shortest honeymoons probably in history.
"It's unusual for a government to go behind so early in its term and that's what appears to have happened here, but we need to wait and see if it's confirmed."
Labor's primary support has also risen four points to 37 per cent while the Coalition's support before preferences has fallen five points to 41 per cent.
However, the poll also shows Tony Abbott leads Bill Shorten as preferred prime minister, 49 to 41 per cent.
Respondents' opinion of Mr Abbott's performance in the job though is neatly split in the poll, with a 47 per cent approval rating against a 46 per cent disapproval rating.
Mr Stirton says the Prime Minister's relatively high disapproval rating adds weight to the theory that voters were determined to get rid of Labor.
"The main reason for the change of government was voters were not happy with Labor, they didn't want Rudd, they didn't want Gillard. They wanted out," he said.
"And there was some reluctance to support the Coalition - and Tony Abbott was the least popular opposition leader ever to be elected to the prime ministership."
The poll of 1,400 people from Thursday to Saturday has a margin of error of 2.6 per cent.
We'll be judged at next election: Morrison
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has played down the poll, telling Radio National the Government is only concerned with implementing its policies.
"We've had almost an 80 per cent fall in illegal arrivals by boat to Australia and that's the measure we use to judge our success, that is, are we stopping the boats?
"All of our policies in border protection are designed to stop the boats coming and that's my single-minded focus.
"That's what I'm seeking to achieve for the Australian people and I believe that's what our Government will be judged on when it comes time for the next election."
