As Julia Gillard approaches her first anniversary as Prime Minister a new poll shows 60 per cent of Australians prefer former prime minister Kevin Rudd as Labor leader over 31 per cent for Ms Gillard.
The Nielsen poll published in today's Fairfax newspapers also shows Labor's primary vote down four points to 27 per cent - the lowest for a major party in Nielsen's 39-year history.
The primary vote for the Coalition is up two points to 40 per cent, and the Greens' primary vote is up two points to 12 per cent.
The Coalition now leads Labor on a two-party preferred basis 59 to 41 per cent, worse than polling when Mr Rudd was overthrown as Labor leader almost a year ago.
In the same poll, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott tied with Ms Gillard as preferred prime minister for the first time with both on 46 per cent.
On Friday Mr Rudd denied reports he was plotting a return to The Lodge, amid media claims of "screaming matches" with Ms Gillard during a Cabinet room meeting.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Mr Rudd said reports of a feud with Ms Gillard were a "fabrication" and urged those involved in speculation to "take a mogadon".
Mr Rudd said the Cabinet room meeting had focused on the suspension of live cattle exports to Indonesia.
"That's what the conversations were about, so I think people are in a bit of frenetic overdrive at the moment. I think they should all just calm down," he said.
"What the Prime Minister and I were discussing yesterday at some length was the challenges we face with Indonesia over live cattle and how we move that forward."
He also denied supporters were urging him to challenge Ms Gillard and said he was enjoying his work as Foreign Minister.
"There's a whole bunch of challenges we're engaged in right across the region, right across the world. I'm into all that right up to my armpits. That's what I'm doing," he said.
"I think it's time everyone just calmed down and got behind the Prime Minister at a time when the country faces real challenges."
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