FED:Abbott returns to mining tax warpath

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2010
FED:Abbott returns to mining tax warpath

By Crystal Ja

GLADSTONE, Qld, Aug 18 AAP - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has taken his marginal seats
blitz to Queensland where he has warned mining towns of the "dangerous future" ahead under
Labor.

Declining a proffered hot dog, Mr Abbott gladly slipped behind the controls of a big
tractor when he visited a construction company in Gladstone, on Queensland's central coast,
on Wednesday.

Afterwards, he stood on a stool and thanked the gathered throng for their hospitality,
before telling them about the threat they faced under the government's resources rent
tax.

"It's very important that on Sunday morning Australians wake up free of the threat
of this tax," he said.

"Spared the clear and present danger that this tax poses to their prosperity."

Mr Abbott later flew south to Brisbane and an insulation company, where he announced
$30 million in grants for those hard-hit by the government's botched roof batts program.

Mr Abbott spent the rest of the day dodging criticism that he was leaving the heavy
policy lifting to his underlings.

It was up to opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey and finance spokesman Andrew
Robb to face the heat over the coalition's long-awaited budget costings unveiling.

"I'm only too happy to answer questions on these subjects, but I am trusting and relying
on my senior shadow ministerial colleagues," he told reporters in his defence.

He also refused to buy into the possibility of an economic debate before Saturday,
saying punters at the Broncos League Club on Wednesday night could ask all the economic
questions they liked.

Back in Gladstone, Bob McCosker, the owner of McCosker Contracting, which derives much
of its work through big mining companies, said the coalition had won him over.

He said the government's tax on the mining industry, and potentially another on carbon,
would "annihilate this town", with his business having already ground to a halt.

Mr McCosker said he didn't agree with all of the coalition's policies, but he was hinging
his vote on the scrapping of big taxes.

The insulation announcement was made close to Forde, where the Liberals hope to tear
down Brett Raguse's 3.4 per cent margin.

They were the latest in a long line of marginal seats Mr Abbott has visited this week.

He defended his right to do so, after continued criticism politicians are ignoring
the rest of the country in the hunt for last-minute votes.

"Sensibly in the last few days of the campaign, I am going to focus on the areas where
the most swinging seats are," he said.

"I can't be everywhere at once."

Mr Abbott's still refuses to name his preferred abode - either Sydney's Kirribilli
House or The Lodge in Canberra - should he win office on Saturday.

AAP cj/sb/cd/de

KEYWORD: POLL10 ABBOTT WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

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