Photo: © 2010 AAP/JULIAN SMITH

The poll, which surveyed 1,400 people, showed Rudd's approval rating has dropped from 59 to 45 per cent, while his disapproval rating shot up from 36 to 49 per cent.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott remains a threat to the Government, with an approval rating hovering at 46 per cent and a disapproval rating of 45 per cent.

Abbott, no doubt pleased with the poll results, said that there was much “to be encouraged by”.

"I think there is a developing crisis of confidence about Kevin Rudd’s capacity to govern effectively," he told ABC Radio this morning.

Last week's Newspoll was also bad news for the prime minister, with his approval rate plummeting from 50 to 39 per cent.