Canberra, Jan 16 (IANS): The Australian government has fallen to a new low in the eyes of the public, the results of a poll showed on Monday.

The ReachTel poll found Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's Liberal-National coalition trailing the Labour opposition 46 per cent to 54 per cent after preferences, Xinhua news agency reported.

Following Health Minister Sussan Ley's dismissal for abusing taxpayer-funded travel last week, the poll of more than 2,100 Australians found record disenchantment with the Turnbull-led government since he came to power in September 2015.

The poll was commissioned by political campaign group GetUp, and the group's director Mark Connelly said it was "no surprise" the poll results were poor for the government considering the tumultuous start to 2017, in which ministers were caught abusing entitlements "while sending tens of thousands of false debt-threat letters to everyday Australians".

Last week it was revealed Australia's welfare body was sending incorrect and threatening debt recovery letters, with as many as 20 per cent thought to be errors.

"Treating Australians like crap is going to get you crap poll results," Connelly added.