New deadline for Abbott to 'shape up or be forced out'
FIRST ON 7: 7News has learned of a new deadline for Prime Minister Tony Abbott to shape up or be forced out.
Mr Abbott's leadership appears safe for now, after improving in the opinion polls, but he is holding a Cabinet meeting where 7News has been told senior ministers will push to discuss his performance.
Earlier on Monday, Mr Abbott was all smiles when he faced the cameras.
"We are focused on doing the right thing by the people of Australia and that's what they expect, they don't want people in Canberra worried about themselves," Mr Abbott said.
Once doors closed it was down to business, and plans for big policy changes to win back voters - including dumping the unpopular Medicare co-payment.
"Announcements about government policy will be announced in the usual way," Health Minister Sussan Ley said.
Cabinet is also discussing the flagged increase in troop trainers to Iraq, the intergenerational report on the cost of our ageing population to be released on Thursday, and one more topic Tony Abbott himself.
It is set to be a frank discussion on his performance and future - helped by a poll this morning showing the Government gaining ground, now trailing 51-49.
But the Prime Minister is still deeply unpopular.
"One poll doesn't change the world," Social Services Minister Scott Morrison said in Mr Abbott's defence.
The positive poll trend though, and a flurry of phone calls between Government MPs at the weekend seems to have bought Tony Abbott some time.
But backbenchers and ministers have also agreed on a new deadline. He has until June to turn things around or he is gone.
MPs say they are facing competing pressures; voters who want Tony Abbott gone, and party members from the Christian Right, attacking Malcolm Turnbull, flooding their offices with emails condemning his views on gay marriage and abortion.
It comes as Labor announced a policy, aimed at stopping multinationals siphoning $2 billion in lost tax through international tax shelters.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten asked: "Why should James Hardie get a tax advantage over James the plumber?"
It is something the Government is already looking at through the G20.
