IT just keeps getting worse for Julia Gillard.

The latest Newspoll published in The Australian today shows the prime minister’s support has plunged to record lows while Opposition Leader Tony Abbott outstrips her as preferred prime minister.

To add to Ms Gillard’s woes, the man she deposed as leader, Kevin Rudd, is surging ahead as the best person to lead Labor.

The Australian says Ms Gillard appears to have borne the brunt of public disapproval over the failure last week of the government’s plan to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia.

Voter satisfaction with Ms Gillard dropped six points to a record low of 23 per cent with dissatisfaction jumping seven points to 68 per cent.