There is growing speculation that Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard could be removed from her position by her party before the end of the year. Senior ministers have come out in support of Gillard after a difficult start to 2012. Despite media reports suggesting she could face a leadership challenge from Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Defense Minister Stephen Smith and other cabinet ministers have expressed their backing for Gillard. Some analysts now believe Gillard is unlikely to lead the party to the next election in 2013, with a potential move against her expected later in the year. Monash University political analyst Nick Economou stated that MPs are starting to worry and some believe Gillard will not lead the Labor Party in the next election. The initial major opinion polls for 2012 revealed that government backing was stuck at historically low levels, while online betting company Sportsbet reported that the odds of Rudd reclaiming leadership by the end of the year had decreased to $1.20 for a $1.00 bet. Smith, speaking from Brussels to Australian television, expressed strong support for the Prime Minister and commended her performance under challenging circumstances. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, and Regional Affairs Minister Simon Crean have all urged an end to party discord, with Crean emphasizing that Rudd does not work well within a team. Despite being ousted as prime minister, Rudd remains popular with voters, though his Labor colleagues view him as a lone operator. The government faces a difficult situation as Prime Minister Gillard relies on the support of two independents and the Greens, and any change in leadership could potentially lead to a change in government or an early election. This is because a new leader would need to negotiate similar support. The opposition has promised to repeal the new 30 percent mining tax and carbon tax, both set to begin on July 1. Despite rumors of a leadership spill, Gillard remains focused on her job and delivering good policy. In 2011, Gillard's position strengthened after an opposition lawmaker became parliamentary speaker, increasing her majority from one vote to three. She has had a difficult start to 2012 with setbacks including losing the support of an independent and a staffer due to broken promises and controversial actions. As a result, the government now only has a one seat majority in parliament and faces scrutiny over a lawmaker's involvement in a police investigation. Despite these challenges, there may be hope for improvement if the central bank cuts interest rates, according to economists. Australian Financial Review political editor Laura Tingle noted a shift in support away from Gillard in the past week, although many Labor lawmakers still have strong negative feelings towards Rudd. Tingle mentioned that the situation has shifted unfavorably for Julia Gillard, while Economou stated that any action against her is unlikely before July, when the carbon tax and mining tax come into effect. This timeline would allow Labor to present its budget in May and participate in campaigning for the Queensland state election on March 24. Economou warned that the real challenge would come after the carbon tax is implemented, and if things do not improve by then, Gillard may be forced to step down.