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Poll shows Turnbull support

Poll shows Turnbull support

First on 7: Tony Abbott has rejected claims of a falling out with Joe Hockey over their response to the Qantas crisis.

It coincides with a 7 News/Reachtel poll which shows Malcolm Turnbull's popularity among voters is greater than the Prime Minister and Treasurer's put together.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister sounded as if he was on a crusade, declaring ‘we are marching to the rescue of this nation’.


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But an exclusive 7News/ReachTEL poll suggests voters want to march to a different tune.

Twice as many people prefer Malcolm Turnbull as Liberal Leader to Mr Abbott and Mr Turnbull is now more popular as leader than Tony Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey combined.

Reports also emerged of a rift between Mr Abbott and Mr Hockey over supporting Qantas.

However, these claims were swiftly dismissed by Mr Abbott who said: “Well of course I agree with the Treasurer. There is never a moment where I don't agree with the Treasurer.

The saving grace in the poll for Mr Abbott is that Mr Turnbull's overwhelming support is among Labor voters, coming in at 76.5 per cent to 5.6 per cent.

Mr Abbott remains twice as popular among Coalition voters.

The poll of 3,600 voters shows the Coalition's primary vote up a little to 40.3 per cent and Labor down to 39.2 per cent.

Labor maintain a 53-47 lead after preferences.

Government sources indicate the Cabinet will consider a compromise deal tonight to give Qantas some of what it's asking for – that is allowing a foreign airline to take a much bigger stake while ensuring the flying kangaroo still calls Australia home.

The proposal retains the 49 percent foreign ownership cap but removes the 25 percent cap on any single foreign interest and the 35 percent cap on total foreign airline interest.

The question now is whether Labor supports the compromise or sees it as a flying wedge.