The latest Nielsen poll has found that the number of people dissatisfied with the carbon tax has fallen significantly since the legislation was introduced on July 1.

The Government has been working to sell the tax to voters while the Opposition has continued its claims the policy will increase cost of living pressures.



The latest Nielsen survey of 1,400 people is the first to be taken since the introduction of the tax.

It found 38 per cent of voters felt they were worse off under the tax, a drop of 13 points since the last poll was taken a month ago.

Fifty-two per cent said it had made no difference - an increase of 15 points.

However only 5 per cent of respondents believed they were better off under the policy.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet says the results show the reality of the tax is setting in.

"Now that the carbon price is in people can test Tony Abbott's deceit against their actual experience and they are finding that Tony Abbott has been deceitful," he said.

Labor's primary vote increased by 2 points to 30 per cent, and the Coalition's primary support dropped one point to 47 per cent.

On a two-party-preferred basis, the Coalition leads Labor by 56 per cent to 44.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott also leads Prime Minister Julia Gillard as preferred prime minister by 48 per cent to 43 per cent.

The poll also found former prime minister Kevin Rudd remains the preferred Labor leader.

Support for Mr Rudd is at 60 per cent, almost double Prime Minister Julia Gillard's 31 per cent rating.

The poll shows 52 per cent of voters back a leadership change while 42 per cent believe Ms Gillard should take Labor to the next election.

The survey, published in Fairfax newspapers, had a margin of error of 2.8 per cent.