The Abbott government has achieved its highest two-party-preferred ranking in the polls since before passing its unpopular budget in May.

A Newspoll published in The Australian shows Labor still leads 51-49 on a two-party-preferred basis with opposition leader Bill Shorten still favoured as prime minister.

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The Coalition primary vote remained steady at 40 per cent, 5.6 per cent below the primary vote achieved when it won the election in September.

Labor still trails in the primary vote at 34 per cent, but the poll indicates they would win an election after distribution of preferences.

The Green’s primary vote fell two points to 11 per cent in the past fortnight, while independents and minor parties recorded a primary vote of 15 per cent in the poll.

Another Newspoll also shows overwhelming support for the government’s proposed crackdown on Australians fighting in the Middle East.

Seventy-seven per cent of voters would support new laws that require people returning to Australia from certain countries to prove they were are not affiliated with any terrorist organisations.