Julia Gillard’s standing worse than Kevin Rudd’s. Voters give Budget thumbs down

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard’s ratings have gone backwards in an Age/Nielsen post-budget poll showing Labor still trailing the Coalition 44-56 per cent and voters deeply sceptical about the government’s Malaysian deal to deter boat arrivals.

In a fillip for the Coalition, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s approval has risen, and he has narrowed Ms Gillard’s lead as preferred PM to three points – the closest they have been.

People are split over the budget and its fairness, while nearly six in 10 disapprove of the people-swapping deal with Malaysia and more than eight in 10 say it will make no difference or increase arrivals. Almost seven in 10 who support the agreement believe it won’t work.

Labor’s primary vote remains at a rock bottom 31 per cent, while the Coalition is steady on 47 per cent in the poll of 1400 taken from Thursday to Saturday. The Greens vote fell two points to 10 per cent. The Coalition two-party lead is the same as last month.

Ms Gillard’s approval declined two points to a record 43 per cent; her disapproval was up two to 52 per cent, also a record for her. Mr Abbott’s approval rose three to 45 per cent; his disapproval was down one to 50 per cent.

Ms Gillard still leads as preferred PM but only narrowly – 47 per cent, down three points to Mr Abbott’s 44 per cent, up two.

With the budget’s mild squeeze on family payments for higher income earners hotly debated last week, 42 per cent said the budget was ”fair”. This was down 14 points on 2009, when the question was last asked. Thirty-nine per cent said it was not fair (up six points on two years ago).

People were evenly divided – 44 per cent each – when asked whether they were satisfied with the budget. The satisfaction rating was well below those in 2008 and 2009.

Among Labor voters, 63 per cent said the budget was fair and 70 per cent were satisfied with it. Only 28 per cent of Coalition voters said it was fair and 27 per cent were satisfied.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/gillards-support-slumps-as-malaysia-deal-gets-the-thumbsdown-20110515-1eocm.html#ixzz1MShf4TJ4