LABOR has started radio ads targeting Opposition Leader Tony Abbott as it tries to win the public opinion war over boat arrivals and the blocking of its Malaysian people swap.

The advertisements, running over the coming week on AM and FM stations in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, aim to put maximum pressure on Mr Abbott before the vote next week on the government's legislation to validate the Malaysia deal, struck down by the High Court.

West Australian National Tony Crook. Credit:Andrew Meares

The fate of the bill in the lower house is in the balance, mainly dependent on what the West Australian National Tony Crook does. But even if it got through the House of Representatives, the Coalition and the Greens would defeat it in the Senate.

Labor strategists believe a majority of people think the opposition should support the bill. They say voters want the problem fixed, and believe the drownings at Christmas Island late last year had a big impact on thinking.