The Wire

The Coalition is leading Labor at the polls for the first time since 2006, showing it ahead by 51 % to 49% in a Newspoll. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has taken a further hit with his approval rating plummeting in the last two weeks from 50% to 39%. The poll follows a chaotic few weeks for the Government who postponed its emissions trading scheme, axed its insulation program, raised the tobacco tax and quit plans to build 200 more childcare centres. Poll watchers say the Coalition shouldn’t get too excited and that the results could just be a backlash against these unpopular announcements.