Coalition, Tony Abbott Perform Poorly in Latest Newspoll; ALP's Bill Shorten Soars High

Prime Minister Tony Abbott's satisfaction rating has declined in the recent Newspoll survey with personal support falling from 46 per cent to 44 per cent. In contrast, Australia Labour Party and Opposition leader Bill Shorten rose to 33 per cent.

According to survey, Labour's primary vote has also increased from 32 to 35 per cent while support for the Coalition dropped to 43 per cent from 45 per cent. The Coalition leads Labour 52 per cent to 48 per cent as the preferred party.

The poll was conducted during the weekend after the news that Australia was spying on Indonesia came out. The October Newspoll had seen the Coalition increasing its lead over Labour in the preferred two-party vote.

The latest Newspoll also showed Mr Abbott's dissatisfaction rating climbing to 42 per cent from 38 per cent.

In another poll, most people in Australia want the carbon tax repealed but don't want Prime Minister Tony Abbott's direct action plan as an alternative policy. In a new poll, 57 per cent of Australians rejects Labour's carbon tax law and only 12 per cent believes in Mr Abbott's policy.

The direct action policy will use taxpayer's money in buying emissions reductions from polluters and planting more trees. While Australians are in favour of repealing the carbon tax, the recent poll indicates a no-confidence vote in the direct action plan.

The Age-Nielsen poll interviewed 1,400 Australians and found that the majority wanted to meet the country's commitment to reduce emissions by 5 per cent by 2020. While the Australian Labour Party and the Coalition have agreed to meet the minimum target, the poll showed most Aussies prefer the policy Labour adopted in the last election which was the emissions trading scheme.

The Coalition government remains undisturbed despite the poor performance of Tony Abbott in the latest Newspoll with Labour in the forefront. The government has downplayed the results as strategists on all political sides were surprised by the results.

Government insiders have dismissed the poll results as meaningless since the election has long-ended. However, some members of the Liberal party had admitted the poll only showed that the Coalition has not established a bond with voters with plans not being explained to the public.