Abbott faces tough talk from voters
FIRST ON 7: The continuing criticism of the Prime Minister Tony Abbott from fellow conservatives is now like rolling thunder.
His judgement and the role of his Chief of Staff, Peta Credlin, are being called into question as an exclusive 7News/ReachTEL poll reveals most people strongly oppose the key savings measures the Abbott Government wants to reduce our nation's debt.
When 7News and pollster Reachtel asked more than 3500 Australians if they support an extra fee for visits to GPs, fewer than one third said 'YES'; meaning a solid majority said 'NO'. Most Liberal and National voters back the doctor's fee.
This result comes as the key ministers revealed a clue as to how the government might charge Australians more for doctor visits. It's a shift critics argue would end Medicare's claim to be universal; means testing our right to be bulk billed.
"We will have something to say about that in coming months, and no doubt there'll be something in relation to all of this in the budget," Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann said today.
As the government prepares its tax white paper, about one quarter of voters support an increase in the GST if it is to replace state taxes.
If you ask Australians if the GST should apply to fruit, vegetables, meat and milk, and the opposition is far stronger; almost three quarters say 'NO'.
In the PM's office, Prince Philip's knighthood has stirred far more short term heat for the boss than say, sending troops back to Iraq.
His decision to knight the Duke of Edinburgh is proving to be unpopular with most, even Liberal voters, many of whom no longer want him running the country.
An exclusive 7News/ReachTEL poll asked almost 3700 Australians if they supported Tony Abbott's knighthood call.
Just 12 percent said 'YES'.
More than 71 percent, 'NO'.
That makes the 'Sir Phil' decision less popular than a tax increase. Even among Liberal and National voters, fewer than one quarter back the PM's call.
This as Tony Abbott's own popularity sinks to the lowest level of his Prime Ministership. Close to 21 percent believe he's doing a good job while more than 61 percent rated his performance as 'poor or very poor'.
