The public, it seems, has lost faith over its current officials and are prepared to move on from a Gillard government, which is currently embroiled in a pair of controversies.

The poll also showed that more than half of Aussies believe the Labor Party is clinging on to power and that PM Julia Gillard failed to exercise political judgment to properly address matters dealing with corruption.

Two officials in the Gillard government are facing controversies, which have been talk of the town in the last few weeks.

Speaker Peter Slipper is facing sexual allegations from a former aide named James Ashby. He is also accused of improper use of Cabcharge vouchers.

Health Services Union head Craig Thomson, meanwhile is being accused of corruption. He allegedly used credit cards issued to the union for his personal gain.

The Prime Minister has announced yesterday that she is benching the two officials. Gillard also admitted that she underestimated public sentiment over these issues.

She, however, held that these MP’s are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Gillard also stressed that so much damage has been done to the reputation of the Parliament because of these scandals hounding her officials.

The Prime Minister was in Canberra this morning when she made the announcement. She said the controversies hounding Thomson and Slipper have cast a dark cloud and Australians are becoming more concerned about how the two have conducted themselves in public.

Gillard said she spoke to Thomson over the phone and suspended him from the party. She, however, clarified that she has not consulted the cabinet about it. She added that Thomson said he is mulling things over and moving to the cross-bench may be the best move.

The Prime Minister, meanwhile, said she asked Slipper to vacate his post as Speaker for a longer period as an act of respect for the Parliament. Deputy Speaker Anna Burke has temporarily replaced Slipper.

The embattled Speaker has accepted the Prime Minister’s recommendation and said he is looking forward to resuming his post soon.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott was quick to criticize Gillard, saying that the move is meaningless. He said that Gillard continues to count on Thomson’s vote so that Gillard can maintain control of the Parliament.

Abbott added that both Thomson and Slipper should not be eligible to vote in the Parliament.

Thomson is facing accusations for allegedly using the Health Services Union credit card to pay for the services of prostitutes. Slipper, meanwhile, is facing allegations of sexually harassing a former staffer. Both politicians have denied the claims.

In a statement he released today, Slipper continues to deny the allegations made against him by former staff James Ashby. He also explained that because the allegations are criminal in nature, he believes that it is not appropriate for him to remain as Speaker.

Labor MP and Deputy Speaker Anna Burke is set to temporarily replace him as Speaker.

Former staff James Ashby filed a formal case again the Speaker. He accused Slipper for making unwanted sexual advances against him, including sending him inappropriate text messages, asking him to massage Slipper, and hiring him specifically to pursue an intimate relationship with the Speaker.

Calls have been growing for Slipper to resign. Earlier, Opposition leader Eric Abetz said Slipper must be removed from parliament. Treasurer Wayne Swan, however, was quick to pacify disgruntled quarters. Swan said that everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. He told the ABC Television that there is a need to respect the legal proceedings.

Swan also fired back at the Opposition, saying the group is using the issue to distract the public from the economic debate.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott, meanwhile, echoed Abetz’s sentiments, saying Prime Minister Julia Gillard should be proactive in restoring the parliament’s integrity. He added that the Prime Minister should make it clear that Slipper that he needs to resign.

Abbot added that Gillard has been washing her hands especially in the case of Craig Thomson, who is under fire for alleged financial mismanagement in Health Services Union.