Australia's centre-left government is headed for defeat in upcoming elections after a sharp drop in support blamed in part on a controversial new mining tax, polls indicated on Monday.
A Nielsen survey showed the ruling Labor Party six percentage points behind the conservative opposition, while a Newspoll survey found concern over the tax could cost the government enough marginal seats to lose power.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who is expected to call the election in coming months, admitted he faced a "huge" task in turning around the slide. Rudd took power in late 2007 and had led in polls until recent weeks.
"The truth is if these polls were reflected on election day, (opposition leader Tony) Abbott will become the prime minister," Rudd told public radio.
"So the challenge for me and for the government is to work harder into the future. I've got a huge amount of work to do to explain my plans as opposed to Mr. Abbott's plans."
Rudd's support has ebbed since he shelved a carbon trading scheme and a programme to provide free home insulation, and unveiled a 40 percent tax on the mining industry -- which is heavily invested by shareholders and pension funds.
The government is now in danger of becoming the first since before World War II not to secure a second term.
"The Australian electorate has delivered its first political death threat to Kevin Rudd," wrote Sydney Morning Herald political editor Peter Hartcher in a front-page comment.
