Darren Cheeseman
ERIN PEARSON
JULIA Gillard should continue leading the country despite falling polls, according to Corangamite MP Darren Cheeseman.
Mr Cheeseman said he remained “100 per cent” behind his embattled leader.
Mr Cheeseman was the first Labor MP to publicly back Ms Gillard’s prime ministerial credentials before she ousted predecessor Kevin Rudd.
A Nielsen Poll this week found that Ms Gillard’s approval rating had dropped to a new low of 34 per cent, the lowest since Paul Keating in 1995.
The poll predicted the Gillard Government would also lose in a landslide if an election was held now, with the Coalition ahead 61 to 39 per cent on the two-party vote.
Mr Cheeseman said he remained one of Ms Gillard’s “biggest fans”.
“Julia Gillard is absolutely the best person to lead this nation,” he declared.
“She is getting around this country campaigning very hard to set a price on carbon.
“I will continue to support her in the very tough and challenging role she has at the moment.”
Opposition leader Tony Abbott, who outpointed Ms Gillard in the Nielsen Poll as preferred Prime Minister, said she would lose her job if his campaign against the carbon tax was strong.
“Frankly, if you’re a PM who tries to bring something in that does as much needless damage as this will do you deserve to lose your job over it?”
