(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - More people in Australia are content with John Howard’s performance but he still trails opposition leader Kevin Rudd, according to a Newspoll published in The Australian. 47 per cent of respondents are satisfied with the way the prime minister is handling his duties, up four points in a week.

In the survey, 62 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Rudd’s performance as leader of the opposition. In addition, 48 per cent of respondents think Rudd would make the better prime minister, while 41 per cent prefer Howard.

In the October 2004 election, Howard was rewarded with a fourth term in office, as the Coalition secured 87 seats in the House of Representatives. The Australian Labor Party (ALP)—led by Mark Latham—elected 60 lawmakers. In December 2006, foreign affairs spokesman Rudd became the new leader of the ALP, defeating Kim Beazley in an internal caucus ballot.

Yesterday, Rudd unveiled a plan to curb climate change that would require 20 per cent of Australian electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. Rudd’s plan would increase yearly household electricity prices by $36 U.S. to cover the cost of generating energy from renewable sources such as wind or solar power. The ALP leader said this policy is "necessary to protect jobs into the future and also necessary to protect our environment into the future."

A legislative election is scheduled for Nov. 24.

Polling Data

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way John Howard is doing his job as prime minister?

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Kevin Rudd is doing his job as leader of the opposition?

Who do you think would make the better prime minister?

Source: Newspoll / The Australian
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,707 Australian voters, conducted from Oct. 26 to Oct. 28, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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