(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Australian prime minister and leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) Kevin Rudd remains popular but has lost some support this month, according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 54 per cent of respondents are satisfied with Rudd’s performance, down three points since late August.

In addition, 35 per cent of respondents are content with the work of Brendan Nelson, leader of the opposition Coalition of Liberals and Nationals, up four points in two weeks. Still, 62 per cent of respondents believe Rudd would make a better prime minister than Nelson, while 16 per cent say the opposite.

Australia held a federal election in November 2007. Final results gave the ALP 85 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives. ALP leader Kevin Rudd was officially sworn in as prime minister in December, bringing an end to the 11-year tenure of Liberal leader John Howard as head of Australia’s government.

Howard failed to retain his seat in the Bennelong constituency and stepped down as Liberal leader. Brendan Nelson—a former defence minister—defeated former environment minister Malcolm Turnbull in an internal leadership ballot by just three votes.

On Sept. 10, Rudd said that a new national defence strategy would prioritize boosting the country’s navy, adding, "There is an arms build-up across the Asia-Pacific region, and Australia therefore must look at the long-term future at the same time as advancing our diplomacy."

Polling Data

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

Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Brendan Nelson 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 1,138 Australian voters, conducted from Sept. 5 to Sept. 7, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

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