A SOLID majority of voters approves of the Rudd Government's handling of the global economic crisis, supports the continued spending of stimulus money and feels the past year has been kind to them financially, a new poll conducted to mark the first anniversary of the meltdown has shown.
Malcolm Turnbull also marks his first anniversary as Opposition Leader this week, and the AC Nielsen poll found that despite a small surge in his personal rating over the past month, the Coalition is in a worse position than it was just after Mr Turnbull deposed Brendan Nelson.
Mr Turnbull's approval rating rose four points to 35 per cent in a month during which Liberal infighting eased and the focus shifted to the Government. His disapproval rating fell five points to 55 per cent. These are his best personal figures since May and lift him above the depths plumbed during the OzCar affair.
A year ago, having just beaten Dr Nelson, Mr Turnbull's approval rating was 45 per cent and his disapproval rating 26 per cent. Dr Nelson will use the anniversary of his ouster on Wednesday to give his valedictory speech.
With parliamentary debate raging about whether the Government has overspent and should now withdraw the remaining stimulus, 59 per cent approved of the Government's handling of the crisis.
As well, 46 per cent wanted the spending to continue as planned and 10 per cent said it should be increased.
But there was significant support for the Opposition's position - a combined 41 per cent said the stimulus should either be wound back or stopped.
The poll of 1400 voters, taken from last Thursday to Saturday, also found most had weathered the past year well: 52 per cent said they were in a similar position financially and 20 per cent said they were better off. But 27 per cent said they were worse off.
Yesterday the Government threatened an early election by flagging a summer sitting of the Senate to force it to reconsider a blocked budget bill to means-test the 30 per cent private health insurance rebate.
The poll showed the Coalition would be trounced if an election were held now.
Labor leads the Coalition on a two-party-preferred basis by 55 per cent to 45 per cent and on the primary vote by 44 per cent to 40 per cent.
The figures are virtually identical to those of August last year, the last time a poll was carried out while Dr Nelson was leader. They represent no significant change from a month ago, but a slide from a year ago, just after Mr Turnbull took the role.
In September last year, Labor led 52-48 on a two-party basis and the primary vote was about even with Labor on 41 per cent and the Coalition on 42 per cent.
Kevin Rudd's approval rating in the latest poll is 70 per cent and his disapproval rating 25 per cent. He leads Mr Turnbull as preferred prime minister by 69 per cent to 23 per cent. A year ago, he led his new opponent by 56 per cent to 33 per cent.
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