Two polls have shown the Labor government is in trouble, while Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard's popularity is rising as fast as support for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is plummeting.
Mr Rudd's standing as preferred prime minister dropped from 57 per cent in February to 45 per cent in a Newspoll survey published in The Australian on Monday.
Support for Ms Gillard jumped from 32 per cent to 40 per cent in the same period.
The coalition has maintained a clear primary vote lead over the Rudd government since last week's 2010 budget, keeping consecutive 50 per cent or higher two-party-preferred support for the first time in four years.
A Galaxy poll published by News Ltd newspapers on Monday showed that about 30 per cent of voters want Ms Gillard to lead the government, while Mr Rudd was backed by 45 per cent of the electorate.
Labor's primary vote fell to 37 per cent, compared with 43.4 per cent at the 2007 election.
The government received no substantial bounce from the budget, but Galaxy found that 43 per cent of voters believed it was good for the Australian economy, while 29 per cent remained uncommitted.
