Julia Gillard's stocks have taken a huge leap with the latest Newspoll showing Labor and the coalition are even at 50 per cent each in the two-party preferred stakes.

The poll, in Monday's The Australian newspaper, was taken over the weekend and shows Labor is electorally competitive for the first time since the prime minister announced last year there would be a carbon tax.

"The Gillard government's intense attacks on (Opposition Leader) Tony Abbott's character also appear to be taking a toll on his personal standing," the paper said.

Since the last poll two weeks ago, Labor's primary vote has recovered to its best level since March 2011, while support for the coalition has fallen to its lowest since then.

Voter satisfaction with Ms Gillard is now at 36 per cent - its highest since December - while dissatisfaction fell five points from 57 per cent two weeks ago to 52 per cent.