A decrease was also recorded in Abbott’s coalition government’s ratings in a two-party preference vote. While Australia’s incumbent Liberal coalition government received the support of some 47 percent of the respondents, the opposition Labor Party, garnered 53 percent.
The approval rating of Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten registered an increase, climbing to a total of 46 percent.
Shorten also leads Abbott on a number of crucial attributes such as competence (58 percent), party confidence (71 percent), trustworthiness (44 percent), and social policy grasp (62 percent). Abbott lead only on two aspects: a clear vision for Australia (49 percent) and the ability to make things happen (48 percent).
«His [Abbott's] figures are historically low. From the trend data, no Prime Minister has received such a low figure for being able to make things happen," the poll published on the Ipsos website stated.
However, Abbott has downplayed the poll returns.
«This is not the first government to have a rough patch in the polls. The Howard government, the Thatcher government, the Reagan government all had rough patches in the polls. I guess I am not the first leader to be subject to a bit of speculation," Abbott told the Sunrise program on Australia’s Channel Seven.
The poll, was conducted on December 4-6, 2014 and interviewed 1,401 respondents.
Abbott assumed the prime minister’s office after the Liberal Party and the National coalition together won Australia’s federal election in September 2013.
