The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, has launched the Liberal Party’s 2013 federal election campaign in Brisbane today.
Abbott’s central theme was trust. “We can’t go on like this,” he told the Liberal audience. “We will be a no surprises, no excuses government, because you are sick of nasty surprises and lame excuses from people that you have trusted with your future.”
In a low key, low expectations address, the Liberal leader made few new promises, preferring to reprise his familiar themes about abolishing the carbon tax and the mining tax, and stopping the boats.
Abbott promised a scheme to give apprentices access to a $20,000 loan to finish a trade.
He promised that a Coalition government will index eligibility thresholds for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, “so that more self-funded retirees will have access to cheaper medicines”.
Abbott also promised “an additional $200 million to dementia research to help the 300,000 Australians who have it today and to help the 900,000 at risk of having it in 30 years’ time as our population gets older”.
Abbott’s speech was preceded by introductions from Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and Nationals leader Warren Truss. His daughters, Bridget and Frances, spoke about their father and welcomed him to the stage.
- Watch Abbott’s speech (15m)
- Listen to Campbell Newman (11m)
- Listen to Julie Bishop (9m)
- Listen to Warren Truss (15m)
- Listen to Bridget and Frances Abbott (8m)
- Listen to Tony Abbott (33m)