AUSTRALIAN voters are sharply at odds with Prime Minister Julia Gillard over the release of classified US government cables, a poll shows.

The survey suggests just one-quarter of Australian voters support Ms Gillard's view that the recent WikiLeaks diplomatic cables should have remained secret.

The findings show 59 per cent support WikiLeaks' action in making the cables public and 25 per cent oppose it.

The survey of 1000 Australians by pollster UMR Research was taken between December 16 and 21, three weeks after the cables from US embassies began appearing.

UMR managing director John Utting said support for the release of the cables was strongest among men, the more affluent and younger voters, and the better educated.