Aussie PM's approval rating falls to 12-month low amid sexism crisis

CANBERRA - The approval rating of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has fallen to a 12-month low amid allegations of misogyny and harassment in the government.

According to the latest Newspoll published by The Australian on Monday, Morrison's approval rating has fallen from 62 percent in mid-March to 55 percent while the percentage of voters dissatisfied with his performance rose from 34 percent to 40 percent.

It marks the first time in more than a year that Morrison's approval rating has fallen below 60 percent.

The opposition Labor Party leads Morrison's coalition 52-48 on a two-party preferred basis.

However, Morrison has maintained a comfortable lead over Labor leader Anthony Albanese.

Fifty-two percent of respondents to the poll identified Morrison as the better leader, down from 56 percent earlier in March, compared to 32 percent for Albanese.

The poll was taken as Morrison faced severe backlash over his response to the sexual assault crisis that has engulfed the federal government.

The crisis began late in February when former government staffer Brittany Higgins went public with allegations that she was raped by a colleague in the office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in March 2019.

Both Reynolds and Attorney-General Christian Porter - who has been accused of a historical rape which he denied - spent much of March on medical leave and are facing demotions from their high-level ministerial portfolios.

Government Member of Parliament (MP) Andrew Laming recently announced he would quit politics at the next election after he was accused of inappropriate behavior towards women.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Laming's inappropriate behavior was "absolutely unacceptable."