Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is expected to take a bigger role on the state campaign, with Mr Abbott's personal unpopularity considered a hindrance.
The "Abbott factor" was considered one of the factors in the Victorian Liberals loss, and the Queensland LNP - while heading into the 2015 poll with a vast majority - are not looking to tempt fate.
Labor is keen to point to as many similarities between the federal Coalition and the state LNP as possible, but Mr Newman has urged voters to judge his government on state issues. Mr Truss agreed.
