‘Misogyny’ speech improves Gillard’s personal standing

SHADOW treasurer Joe Hockey says Australians have missed the “dripping hypocrisy in Julia Gillard’s speech to parliament on sexism” as a new poll shows a boost for the prime minister.

Ms Gillard’s now famous parliamentary misogyny speech has lifted her personal standing and widened the gap between her and Tony Abbott.

The latest Fairfax-Nielsen poll on Monday gives Ms Gillard a 10-point margin over the opposition leader – her biggest lead since February 2011.

Apparently it’s also relegated any possible threat from former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

She is now seen as preferred prime minister by 50 per cent of voters – up three points from the last poll, while Mr Abbott has slipped four points to 40 per cent.

Mr Hockey says the poll shows most Australians missed the hypocrisy in Ms Gillard’s speech to parliament on sexism.

“Quite frankly for those who bore witness to the concepts of the speech, the hypocrisy of her words was not lost,” he told ABC radio.

“I’m not sure if polls are always right.”

Trade Minister Craig Emerson told ABC radio the poll reflected the opposition’s “scare campaign on the carbon tax falling to the ground”.

“Tony Abbott’s ratings are collapsing because all he’s got left is this relentless negativity,” Dr Emerson said.

Labor’s two-party vote has also risen for the fourth consecutive month.

The coalition remains ahead in the two-party vote but has eased one point in five weeks to 52 per cent while the government added one point to 48 per cent.

Finance Minister Penny Wong said the poll reflected Ms Gillard’s clarity on what was important for the country in comparison to Mr Abbott’s “aggressively negative” behaviour.

She declined to say whether the poll boost was linked to the prime minister’s sexism and misogyny speech. - AAP