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Shock poll as Labor support slides

Just five days into the job, Julia Gillard's honeymoon appears to be over, with the new Prime Minister scoring her first shock opinion poll.

An exclusive Morgan-7News poll shows Labor has gone backwards since Ms Gillard deposed Kevin Rudd from the leadership last Thursday.

The Coalition has an election-winning lead, climbing 4.5 points to 51.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis.

Labor has dropped 4.5 points to 48.5 per cent.

The poll, taken over the weekend and yesterday, also puts Opposition Leader Tony Abbott back in front as preferred prime minister on 48 per cent to Julia Gillard's 40 per cent.

The primary vote has the Liberal/Nationals on 45.5 per cent (up 4.5 points), Labor on 38.5 per cent (down 2.5 points) and the Greens on 9 per cent (down 3.5 points).

Today, most punters were betting that Ms Gillard will take the country to an election sooner rather than later, making August 28 the favourite Saturday for a ballot.

Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said punters have zeroed in on dates in August but all the big money had been for the 28th.

"We have taken a number of good bets which has seen the 28th shorten from $3.50 to $2.75 in the past 24 hours," Mr Sullivan said.

But all that may change in light of the Morgan-7News poll and the outcome of negotiations over the Resource Super Profits Tax on mining companies.