Australia PM at record low in polls

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Support for Australian leader Julia Gillard has hit a record low and the conservative opposition would trounce her if an election was held, according to a poll published on Wednesday.

A Newspoll in The Australian newspaper put satisfaction with Gillard at just 30 per cent, with 55 per cent saying they were unimpressed with her performance, just shy of a year since she wrested power in a party coup.

It was her lowest satisfaction rating on record, and worse than that of ex-leader Kevin Rudd, whose plunging popularity saw Gillard depose him just weeks before elections were called.

Gillard’s ruling Labor party slumped to 45 percent of the vote, from 50.1 per cent at last August’s election and 48 per cent two weeks ago, with the conservative Liberal/National coalition in a comfortable lead on 55 per cent.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott had similar personal ratings to the Prime Minister in the poll of 1,150 voters, with 52 per cent saying they were dissatisfied with his performance and 35 per cent satisfied.

He still trailed Gillard as preferred leader, 38 per cent to her 41 per cent, with 21 per cent of voters saying they were uncommitted.

Gillard’s popularity has steadily waned in recent months as she attempts to sell a tax on carbon pollution and controversial plans to swap 800 boatpeople for 4,000 refugees living in Malaysia.

Abbott said the result showed Gillard had “comprehensively failed” to address the problems which saw her take power from Rudd 12 months ago.

“Julia Gillard said almost a year ago that the government had lost its way and that she was taking control,” he said.

“Since then things have gone from bad to worse and it’s got even more chaotic than it was before.”

Gillard brokered her way into office with the support of minority lawmakers after the polls resulted in deadlock, and said it was “certainly unusual times” in Australian politics.

“I know there are some in the international business community who wonder if there ever will be a carbon price,” she told a foreign investment conference.

“They are rightly concerned about the fractious state of Australian politics at the present moment.”

But she said her government remained “committed to driving an ambitious policy agenda” and had advanced a number of key reforms since she took office, including a national broadband plan and tax on mining profits.

“This is not the time for turning or trepidation,” she said.

“We are on track.”