Chief government whip Joel Fitzgibbon has reiterated his comments that political leaders who are unpopular are unlikely to survive.

Mr Fitzgibbon said this morning that he still believed Prime Minister Julia Gillard had time to turn her dire polling numbers around.

But in an interview with ABC Radio that echoed similar comments he made on last night's ABC Q&A program, he said: ''I was just speaking the truth and stating the obvious, no political leader can stay on low polling numbers forever.''

When asked whether his comments would have been best kept in private, he said: ''Shock horror, a politician who calls it as he sees it. People aren't mugs - it's a historical fact that political leaders who poll badly long enough don't remain political leaders."

A member of the New South Wales Right who has been seeking to gather support for a change of leader, Mr Fitzgibbon said last night that Prime Minister Julia Gillard was doing good work.

Mr Fitzgibbon was challenged on Q&A to say whether he would guarantee Ms Gillard would lead to the election. ''Well I can't guarantee that the Newcastle Knights will make the final eight, but I'm very confident they will. I'm very hopeful they will,'' he said.

He denied that senior figures were orchestrating the return of former leader Kevin Rudd.

''The reality is that Julia Gillard has plenty of time between now and the next election. I believe her polling numbers will improve. I'm very hopeful they will improve. And I'll be very pleased when they do improve.''

Asked about the situation in which they did not, he said that was ''too hypothetical''.

Was Mr Rudd's return to the leadership this year completely out of the question?

He replied: ''I think it's unlikely.

''They say a week's a long time in politics - in this environment, six months is an eternity.''

Treasurer Wayne Swan said this morning that true leadership was built on policies, not dictated by the polls.

Mr Swan disagreed with Mr Fitzgibbon, and said he did not believe the party would remove Ms Gillard as Prime Minister if the currently dismal poll results failed to improve.

Mr Swan outlined Ms Gillard's reform agenda and achievements, including the introduction of the carbon and mining taxes and reforms in the aged-care sector.

''At the end of the day, those are the matters ... which will count at the next federal election,'' Mr Swan said.

Fitzgibbon 'Stating The Obvious' On Gillard