The prime minister's personal approval rating has plunged and Labor now leads the coalition government for the first time since the election.

Approval for Mr Morrison has tumbled eight points to 37 per cent, while Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese's rating has leapt from 40 to 46 per cent.

Mr Albanese has now overtaken Mr Morrison as preferred prime minister.

Since the last poll, the prime minister has faced sustained criticism over his handling of the bushfire crisis, especially his decision to take a family holiday in Hawaii.

A series of missteps since the ill-timed trip have exacerbated the drubbing.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg defended the prime minister's response to the bushfires.

"The Australian public know that Scott Morrison is absolutely focused on delivering for them," Mr Frydenberg told reporters.

"Delivering the response and recovery that is required."

Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the prime minister had done "everything he possibly humanly could" in response to the fires.

But Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce was not surprised by the poor polling.

"There is a part of taking your medicine," Mr Joyce told the Seven Network.

"We understand clearly, and the prime minister has said himself, that there is parts we could have done better. If you don't acknowledge fault, then you're making a mockery of the people who have concerns.

"The poll is unsurprising but it will move on."

Labor deputy leader Richard Marles said the polling reflected Mr Morrison's lack of leadership.

"This is a prime minister who has not been engaging in leadership - this is an engagement in panic," he told reporters.

"And it's not panic on behalf of the nation, it's panic on behalf of Scott Morrison himself.

"Panic about his image, panic about his level of support, panic about his standing in the community."

Labor is ahead 51-49 on a two-party-preferred basis, a significant turnaround from the last poll in early December when the coalition led 52-48.

The coalition's primary vote has dropped two points to 40 per cent, while Labor's has increased from 33 to 36 per cent.

Support for the Greens rose one point to 12 per cent, while One Nation lost ground, falling one point to four per cent.

Backing for other minor parties dropped off one point to eight per cent, according to the survey of 1505 voters conducted from January 8-11.

Australian Associated Press