By Frank Coletta For Daily Mail Australia and Aap Tony Abbott's strong stance with Russia over Malaysian Flight MH17 is believed to have translated into a stronger showing in the polls, making him the preferred prime minister for the first time in four months. The latest Newspoll published in The Australian shows the Coalition's primary vote is back up to 40 per cent for the first time since April, regaining some of the ground lost after an unpopular budget. Tony Abbott's tough talking over the investigation into the Malaysian Airlines MH17 tragedy has won him strong support from voters, according to the latest Newspoll
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Tony Abbott is now preferred Prime Minister over Opposition Leader Bill Shorten for the first time in four months
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His strong stance against Russia in the aftermath of the MH17 tragedy has helped boost his popularity
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His change of mind on the Racial Discrimination Act is also believed to have helped
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Mr Abbott has reversed most of his losses from an unpopular budget
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Coalition's primary vote has jumped 4 points to 40 per cent but still trails Labor
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Labor primary vote has fallen to 34%, almost the same as its election-losing result
It also shows his standing as preferred PM has improved by six points since June, while Mr @placeholder's has fallen by eight, a 14 point turnaround in favour of the PM.