Tuesday Sep 4 10:06 AEST

More than half of all Australians believe George W Bush is the worst president in American history, a new poll shows.

The Galaxy poll, commissioned by the Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPW), found 52 per cent of Australians believed Mr Bush was the United States' worst-ever president.

Just 32 per cent said he was not, while the remainder were undecided.

MAPW spokesman Robert Marr said it was timely for gauging the Australian public's view of the US president, who will arrive in Sydney for the APEC summit.

"We thought it was important to get an accurate opinion of Australians' views towards President Bush," Dr Marr told ABC radio.

"And whether they agree with former president Jimmy Carter that George (W) Bush was actually the worst president of US history.

"The result was there is a clear majority of Australians who believe George (W) Bush is the worst ... and that is based primarily on his Iraq war policy."

Dr Marr also said similar polls in the United States showed it was not anti-American to be anti-Bush.

"George Bush is not representing American views these days, as over 60 per cent of Americans disagree with his policy in the Iraq war," he said.

"We don't have to go along with every hare-brained military action that he suggests, and unfortunately (Prime Minister John) Howard didn't have the courage to stand up against George Bush and not get involved in the Iraq war."

©AAP 2007