Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Australians have become disillusioned with the Turnbull government, as a new poll shows the prime minister's approval rating has slumped.
Mr Shorten was responding to the latest Newspoll, which shows satisfaction with Malcolm Turnbull's performance has fallen to 39 per cent - well down on his 60 per cent rating in mid-November.
"Six months ago, I think that Australians thought - and I was one of them - that at least the political debate in this country might improve with Mr (Tony) Abbott's departure," Mr Shorten told reporters in Sydney just before Mr Turnbull's announcement of an early budget and possible early double dissolution election.
"But the truth of the matter is that six months on, Australians are massively disappointed with the Turnbull government," Mr Shorten said on Monday.
The Opposition leader cited the government's plan to hike the GST, disinterest in prioritising first home buyers and plans to "get their hands on people's superannuation" as contributing factors to their disappointment.
Mr Shorten was speaking during a visit to an eastern Sydney dental clinic, where he slammed the federal government's plans to axe the Child Dental Benefits program.
He said that while Labor was speaking up for children's dental care, Mr Turnbull and Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos were proposing tax cuts for big corporations.
"Being a government is about choices," Mr Shorten said.
"The fact that Mr Turnbull will choose companies over individuals speaks volumes for him."
The poll of 2049 voters wasn't all bad news for Mr Turnbull.
He remains by far the preferred prime minister, on 52 per cent, compared with 21 per cent for Mr Shorten whose net satisfaction rating is up one point to minus 24 points.
The coalition also nudged ahead in two-party-preferred terms to lead Labor by 51 per cent to 49 per cent.
Mr Turnbull was considered best to manage the economy and more capable of handling tax reform compared with Mr Shorten.
But the Opposition leader would not be drawn on his and Labor's performance in the poll.
He said Australians would rather see children get proper dental care than tax cuts for companies.
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