"Ms Gillard's minority administration has been slipping in popularity and some observers say Labor could be heading for defeat at the polls."

Labor has suffered crushing defeats in state elections (e.g. it is no longer certified as a political party in Queensland). "Slipping at the polls" and "heading for defeat" are understating Gillard's problems.

This was likely done in an effort to reverse the collapse, but I doubt it will have any effect.