New poll says Australians believe Malcolm Turnbull better suited than Tony Abbott to be Prime Minister

MANY more Australians believe Malcolm Turnbull has better values and credentials to be Prime Minister than Tony Abbott, a Newspoll survey has revealed.

A new poll has revealed voters believe Malcolm Turnbull has better credentials to be Prime Minister than Tony Abbott. Picture: AAP

A NEWSPOLL survey shows many more Australians believe Malcolm Turnbull has better values and credentials to be Prime Minister than Tony Abbott.

Nearly half of all surveyed voters want the former prime minister to stop commenting on the government’s performance, the exclusive poll for The Australian reveals.

It shows that 58 per cent of voters say Mr Turnbull has the best values and leadership credentials while only 23 per cent favour Mr Abbott.

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The poll will come as good news for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: AAP

The Newspoll also shows that 69 per cent of Coalition voters back Mr Turnbull’s values and leadership credentials against 23 per cent for Mr Abbott.

One Nation voters are the only group preferring Mr Abbott’s leadership qualities with 44 per cent in support compared with 34 per cent for Mr Turnbull.

The poll also shows that only 31 per cent of Coalition voters support Mr Abbott being given a cabinet post compared with 41 per cent at the same last year.

It shows 48 per cent of all voters want Mr Abbott to stay on the backbench but stop commenting on the government’s performance.

Of those surveyed far less thought Mr Abbott’s leadership qualities were preferable to those of Mr Turnbull’s. Picture: AAP

The poll results came after Mr Abbott said headed to Queensland to discuss energy prices with Liberal National Party MP Ken O’Dowd and local residents.

Mr Abbott told radio station 2GB yesterday: “we have to keep the lights on”.

“We’ve been on the wrong ­direction for far too long.

“For the best part of a decade decisions in this area have not been made to give us a cheaper and more reliable power; they’ve been made to reduce emissions.

“What I think we need is a jobs-first power policy, not a power policy which obsesses about reducing emissions.”

The Government remains divided over clean energy target proposals that offers incentives for low-emission and renewable projects.