Australian PM Turnbull takes government to first poll win in 16 months

Malcolm Turnbull has delivered a dramatic turnaround in the Australian government's fortunes, with the latest popularity polls showing the Coalition was ahead of Labor for the first time in 16 months.

Galaxy, a news poll published by News Corp, showed the Coalition had edged ahead of Labor in the two-party preferred category; Malcolm Turnbull's government has 51 percent of the vote to Labor's 49 percent.

Turnbull only came into the prime ministership after winning a leadership challenge Monday night, and according to Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, it was a decision that sits well with the Australian public.

"Malcolm Turnbull has certainly made a very strong start in the parliament," Frydenberg said.

"He's obviously going to bed down his team over the course of the weekend and announce it next week.

"These early signs are very positive," Frydenberg said, quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Opposition frontbencher Anthony Albanese said the results of the poll were of little surprise, and it was a voter's knee-jerk reaction to new leadership.

The survey of 1,224 voters was taken on Tuesday and Wednesday following Turnbull's successful leadership coup, and also asked the question of preferred prime minister.

Turnbull was preferred leader for 51 percent of voters while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was the pick for 20 percent, with 29 percent being unsure.

The first test of Turnbull's leadership comes on Saturday in the seat of Canning, where a by-election is taking place.

Canning, traditionally a safe Liberal seat, was under siege from Labor before the leadership challenge, though the Coalition is still expected to win.

Meanwhile the next Australian federal election is to be held, at the latest, in 2016. Endi