There is growing speculation that Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard may be removed from her position by her party before the end of the year. Despite a rough start to 2012, senior ministers have come out in support of Gillard, including Defense Minister Stephen Smith, amidst media reports suggesting she may face a challenge from Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd. Political analysts now believe Gillard is unlikely to lead the party into the next election in 2013, with a potential move against her expected later in the year. According to Monash University political analyst Nick Economou, some MPs are starting to worry and believe a change in leadership may be necessary. The initial major opinion polls for 2012 showed that government support was stuck at historically low levels. Online bookmakers Sportsbet stated that the odds of Rudd becoming the leader again by the end of the year had decreased to $1.20 for a $1.00 bet. Despite this, some members of the party, such as Smith, expressed strong support for the current Prime Minister, believing she is handling challenging situations well. Other ministers, including Combet, Conroy, and Crean, have called for unity within the party and criticized Rudd for not being a team player. Despite being ousted as prime minister due to difficulties passing reforms, Rudd still maintains popularity among voters. The government is facing a dilemma as Prime Minister Gillard relies on support from two independents and the Greens, and any change in leadership could potentially lead to a change in government or an early election if the new leader cannot secure similar support. This could result in the conservative opposition abolishing a new mining tax and carbon tax scheduled to begin on July 1. Gillard dismissed recent rumors, stating that she is focused on implementing effective policies and not concerned with media speculation. Gillard ended 2011 on a positive note after gaining additional support in parliament, strengthening her majority. However, her year did not start off well in 2012. She lost the backing of an independent in January because she failed to keep her promise to change gambling laws. Additionally, she lost a staff member who resigned due to his involvement in a protest against Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that created a security threat. As a result, the government's majority in parliament is now just one seat, with one lawmaker facing scrutiny in a police investigation regarding the use of union funds for prostitutes. Despite this, there is a possibility for relief if the central bank reduces interest rates next week. Australian Financial Review political editor Laura Tingle noted a shift in support away from Gillard in the past week, although many Labor lawmakers remain strongly opposed to Rudd. Tingle wrote on Friday that there has been a shift in sentiment against Julia Gillard. Economou mentioned that any action against Gillard is unlikely until July, when the carbon tax and mining tax come into effect. This will give Labor time to present their budget in May and campaign for the Queensland state election on March 24. Economou warned that the real threat to Gillard will come after the carbon tax is implemented, and if conditions do not improve by then, she may need to step down.