MALAYSIA DEAL TAKES TOLL ON GILLARD

MALAYSIA DEAL TAKES TOLL ON GILLARD: POLL

The federal government's deal for asylum-seeker swaps with Malaysia has taken its toll on Julia Gillard with a new poll showing the prime minister's ratings have gone backwards.

The latest Age/Nielsen poll shows Labor still trailing the coalition 44 to 56 per cent with voters deeply sceptical about the government's plan to deter boat arrivals.

The stocks of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott continue to improve by narrowing Ms Gillard's lead as preferred prime minister to three points - the closest they have been.

The poll showed that nearly six in 10 disapprove of the people-swapping deal with Malaysia and more than eight in 10 say it will make no difference or increase arrivals.

Labor's primary vote remains at a rock bottom 31 per cent, while the coalition is steady on 47 per cent in the poll of 1,400 taken from Thursday to Saturday.

The Greens vote fell two points to 10 per cent.

Ms Gillard's approval declined two points to a record 43 per cent while her disapproval was up two to 52 per cent, also a record for her.

Mr Abbott's approval rose three points to 45 per cent while his disapproval was down one to 50 per cent.

Ms Gillard retains a narrow lead as preferred PM at 47 per cent, down three points to Mr Abbott's 44 per cent, up two.