Abbott in pole position to win election

Tony Abbott has started the 2014 election campaign in pole position - according to a new Galaxy poll. Source: news.com.au

• 55 per cent back decision for election to be held on September 14
• Prime Minister Julia Gillard's satisfaction rating is 38 per cent
• Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's satisfaction rating is 36 per cent

TONY Abbott is in the box seat to become the next prime minister, according to the first major opinion poll since Julia Gillard announced that the Federal Election will be held on September 14.

The Galaxy Poll shows the Coalition leads 54 per cent to Labor's 46 and it could win 14 seats if that result is repeated on election day.

A majority of voters back Ms Gillard's decision to have a September election rather than an immediate ballot but do not believe her reasons for announcing the 227-day countdown to polling day.

The poll also reveals that both Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott are still deeply unpopular.

The national phone poll of 1015 voters shows that Labor's primary vote is at 35 per cent - down three points from the 38 per cent achieved at the 2010 election.

Support for the Coalition has climbed from 43.6 per cent at the last election to 48 per cent. The Greens, facing their first poll under new leader Christine Milne, have dipped from 11.8 to 10 per cent.

The Galaxy survey was taken between February 1 and 3 after Ms Gillard's surprise decision to name the election date and after former Labor MP Craig Thomson was arrested.

Two Cabinet ministers, Nicola Roxon and Chris Evans, also announced their retirement, causing a shock reshuffle during the period of the poll.

The Galaxy Poll reveals 55 per cent of people back the PM's decision to hold the election in September, compared with 38 per cent who want it held now.

But only 41 per cent believe her explanation that the date was announced early to provide certainty for the nation and end speculation. About 53 per cent do not believe that was the reason.

Ms Gillard's satisfaction rating was 38 per cent, while 57 per cent of voters were dissatisfied with her performance.

Mr Abbott's score was almost identical. Only 36 per cent were satisfied with his performance and 57 per cent were dissatisfied.

Ms Gillard was more popular with Labor voters (65 per cent) than Mr Abbott was with Coalition voters (58 per cent).

Galaxy Research director David Briggs said voters were "not in a rush to get to the ballot box" but "most voters do not believe Julia Gillard's explanation for the long campaign".

"This poll confirms that the Coalition commences the campaign with a handy lead and Labor can be grateful that their horror week has not put them further behind," he said.

Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne came under fire after he said the Government was unravelling and compared it to a movie about the final days of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany.

"The Government is starting to resemble a scene from Downfall and the Prime Minister is presiding over a divided and dysfunctional government," he said.

New Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who once compared Mr Abbott to Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels, called on Mr Pyne to apologise for his immature comment.

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