Gillard slips as preferred PM

Julia Gillard has lost her rating as preferred prime minister to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in the latest Newspoll.

The poll, published in The Australian on Tuesday, shows that if an election were held now the government would be routed.

Voters surveyed in last weekend's poll said their satisfaction with Mr Abbott had risen in the past two weeks while Ms Gillard's standing had sunk to its lowest level since November, before the positive impact of the visits of the Queen and US President Barack Obama.

Labor's primary vote rose from 30 per cent to 32 per cent and the coalition's from 45 per cent to 46 per cent.

The paper said that based on preference flows at the August 2010 election, the coalition now holds a 10-point two-party preferred lead over the ALP of 55 per cent to 45 per cent.

It is the coalition's best primary vote and two-party preferred vote since November.

Labor's primary vote is also its best since November, but two-party support remains at levels that would mean an electoral rout if an election were held now.

Ms Gillard had been the preferred prime minister since mid-November, after she hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and Mr Obama.

But last weekend her previous lead of 40 per cent to 37 per cent was reversed, with Mr Abbott's support rising three points to 40 per cent as Ms Gillard's fell the same to 37 per cent.