New polls show Australian new PM likely to win next election

Two new polls have given Australian new Prime Minister Julia Gillard's Labor government an election-winning lead, local media reported on Saturday.

A Galaxy poll published in News Ltd newspapers on Saturday showed Gillard's ascension to the top job has lifted Labor's primary vote to 41 percent, up four percentage points since the May budget, while Labor now holds a 52-48 lead over the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis.

The poll also found more voters (58 percent) believe Gillard would make the better prime minister, with 32 percent supporting Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

"Gillard was considered twice as trustworthy as Abbott, and is a stronger leader and a better listener," the poll said.

Galaxy polled more than 800 people around Australia.

Meanwhile, a Nielsen poll published in Fairfax newspapers on Saturday showed Labor's two-party preferred approval rating has jumped eight percentage points in the three weeks since the last Nielsen poll, giving it a substantial 55-45 lead over the Coalition.

The Greens' approval rating fell by seven points to eight percent.

Fifty-six percent of those polled approve of Gillard as Labor leader, while her rating as preferred prime minister, at 55 percent, is up six points on the deposed prime minister Kevin Rudd 's rating three weeks ago.

Abbott's rating as preferred prime minister is down five points to 34 percent.

Nielsen polled 993 voters on Thursday night, just after Gillard assumed the leadership from Rudd.

Julia Gillard has become Australia's first female Prime Minister after Kevin Rudd stood down as Labor Party leader on Thursday morning.

Source: Xinhua