Abbott says no to Vic metro tunnel funds

A COALITION federal government would not invest in urban rail projects such as the proposed Melbourne Metro tunnel, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.

Melbourne Metro is a nine-kilometre rail tunnel, which includes five new stations between South Kensington and South Yarra.

The state government has allocated almost $50 million for planning and preparatory work.

Mr Abbott says the commonwealth does not usually invest in metropolitan rail and that situation would continue under a coalition government.

"The commonwealth government has a long history of funding roads and no history of funding urban rail," he told reporters in Frankston on Thursday.

"It's important that we stick to our knitting, and the commonwealth's knitting when it comes to funding infrastructure is roads."

Mr Abbott said he was committed to the East West Link road project being underway within 18 months if he wins power at the September election.

He has promised $1.5 billion in funding for the 18km project, which would connect the Eastern Freeway and the Western Ring Road.

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Abbott forecasts Flannery job loss

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has forecast a job loss for chief climate commissioner Tim Flannery if the coalition wins power at the next election.

And he says climate change and carbon tax bureaucracies set up by the Labor government would also go under a coalition government when it abolishes the carbon tax.

When asked on Macquarie Radio on Wednesday if Professor Flannery would be "consigned to the wastepaper basket of bureaucracy", Mr Abbott said he thought there were four climate and carbon tax bureaucracies in place.

"When the carbon tax goes, all of those bureaucracies will go and I suspect we might find that the particular position you refer to goes with them," he told broadcaster Ray Hadley.

"It does sound like an unnecessary position given that the gentleman in question gives us the benefit of his views without needing taxpayer funding," Mr Abbott said.

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne said it was another extreme policy from Mr Abbott, who in the past had labelled the science of climate change as "crap".

"Frankly, all of his policies are in line with that view," Senator Milne told reporters in Canberra.

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Extend Cape York welfare reforms: Abbott

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott wants to see indigenous welfare reforms now being tested in Cape York expanded to communities across the country.

The Cape York Welfare Reform Trials, currently under way in Coen, Aurukun, Mossman Gorge and Hope Vale, aim to restore local indigenous authority and improve living conditions and the local economy.

In the trials, welfare payments can be withheld from parents who don't make decisions in the best interests of their children.

The Queensland government announced on Wednesday it wouldn't fund the trials after 2013.

The Regional Organisation of Councils of Cape York and Torres Shire (ROCCY) supports that decision, saying the reforms have failed.

Premier Campbell Newman insists he isn't abandoning the program, but he wants to see a wider, more cost-effective rollout.

"We are just not going to keep writing out cheques for a program that is expensive for the number of people it's looking after," he told 4BC radio on Thursday.

Mr Abbott said he was a big supporter of the reforms.

"I want to see welfare reform spread beyond the four Cape communities where it is currently focused," he told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.

"Throughout Queensland and hopefully throughout Australia.

"I'm happy to work constructively with all levels of government to make sure this happens."

An independent report on the reforms, released on Thursday, said positive changes in education and social behaviour were seen in the trial communities, but gains in housing and economic development were limited.

School attendance jumped - from four per cent below the rate in similar communities in 2008 to six per cent higher in 2011.

But keeping students in high school remained a significant challenge, the report said.

Residents say they're working towards becoming better parents and managing their money better to meet the needs of their families.

"Compared to three years ago, children are happier, more active and eating healthier food," the report said.

"Life is on the way up generally."

Progress was being made to remove legal and financial barriers to indigenous home ownership.

The reforms also led to the creation of 220 jobs but had a limited impact on the number of residents dependent on welfare.

The report concluded there could be no quick fix to challenges that were decades in the making.

"However, the trial of welfare reform points to a level of progress that has rarely been evident in previous reform programs."

The trial was supposed to end last year but was extended to December 2013 after the federal government kicked in $11.8 million.

In total, about $100m has been spent on the reforms by federal and state governments.

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Tolls a matter for Vic govt: Abbott

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has not bought into the issue of whether the Victorian government should impose a toll or sell off existing roads to fund Melbourne's East-West freeway.

The federal coalition has promised $1.5 billion for the multi-billion dollar project, which will require an 18km road to be built connecting the city's Eastern Freeway and the Western Ring Road.

Toll road operator ConnectEast boss Dennis Cliche has said the state government will struggle to raise funds for the tunnel and has recommended the sale of the Eastern freeway and to turn it into a toll road.

But Transport Minister Terry Mulder says the freeway won't be sold nor be tolled, putting him at odds with Premier Denis Napthine who told Fairfax Radio earlier this week that he would not rule out tolls to fund the East-West Link.

Mr Abbott says how the new freeway is funded is up to the Victorian government.

"How much of a private sector contribution the Victorian government wants, that's really a matter for the Victorian government," Mr Abbott told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Mr Abbott says federal Labor has left Victoria in the lurch by refusing to commit to the project.

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Gillard to have 'L-plate' cabinet: Abbott

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott says Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be working with an "L-plate cabinet" in the lead-up to the federal budget in 50 days' time.

Ms Gillard will announce a ministry reshuffle in Canberra at noon (AEDT) on Monday, following the resignations of ministers Martin Ferguson, Chris Bowen and Kim Carr and the sacking of Simon Crean following last week's botched leadership challenge.

Mr Abbott said the new ministry would be inexperienced at a time when Labor was under pressure to deliver a "responsible, honest budget" for 2013/14.

"This is quite a challenge for the government, given that the budget will be prepared with some of Labor's most respected and most competent members on the backbench rather than on the frontbench," he told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

"It is going to be very much an L-plate cabinet.

"There will be people in the cabinet who will be confronted with budget-making for the first time in their careers."

Mr Abbott said the new ministry would include the sixth small business minister in less than three years, after Mr Bowen stood down on Friday.

Mr Abbott said his team had "stability and continuity" and would examine the government's May 14 budget for honesty and responsibility.

The coalition's assessment of the budget would direct the timing of any no confidence motion in the government.

"There will be a no confidence motion put on the notice paper in budget week because it is time for the Australian people to have their say," Mr Abbott said.

"We've had the faceless men, we've had the backroom deals - now the Australian public deserve their say.

"The longer this government lasts the more damage it is doing to our country and to our economy."

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Abbott fights cut to baby bonus

A FEDERAL Nationals MP is backing the retention of the baby bonus despite saying the $5000 payment was a two-edged sword in his electorate.

The coalition is divided over a government decision to reduce the bonus to $3000 for second and subsequent children.

Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey reportedly is keen to back the decision because of its brings savings to the budget.

But those in the coalition, including The Nationals, appears to have won the argument for retaining the $5000 payment.

Mark Coulton, the MP for Parkes, admits the bonus payments have not been the greatest success in his western NSW electorate.

"In some parts of my electorate it has not been the greatest piece of social policy," he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

"But for young working families it has been a huge boost."

The bonus should stay as there needed to be an incentive for women to stay out of the workforce for a while, the MP said.

Opposition frontbencher Christopher Pyne said there was no division "whatsoever" within shadow cabinet on the matter.

"It was the Peter Costello/(John) Howard brainchild," he said, adding the bonus reflected the costs new families faced.

Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt said the Greens would consider the changes once they were up for a vote.

"The real issue is whether the government has the guts to stand up to powerful interests like the big miners to raise the revenue we need the services Australians expect," he said.

Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury said Mr Hockey had been "so embarrassingly overturned" by his colleagues.

"This was the man out there beating his chest to curb the age of entitlement," he said.

Mr Hockey would now vote against the responsible saving of half a billion dollars.

"He has been humiliated in shadow cabinet as Mr Abbott has rolled him on this issue."

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I'm not getting cocky: Tony Abbott

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says his faith would not play a part in how he would govern as prime minister.

TONY Abbott doesn't want to jinx himself by admitting that he is more than likely to be Australia's next prime minister.

The opposition leader, whose coalition party is well ahead in the polls for this year's election, told the Nine Networks's 60 Minutes that he is about to face the "supreme challenge of his life'' as he bids to win government from Labor.

"I don't want to jinx myself by getting too cocky too soon,'' Mr Abbott said.

"This is the supreme challenge of my life, and I am so conscious of the responsibility that I carry and so determined not to let down the millions of Australians who would like to see a change of government.''

Mr Abbott, who once trained for the priesthood, said religion would not play a part in how he would govern if he won office.

He said faith was important and had helped shape him as a person.

"But it must never, never dictate my politics,'' he said.

Mr Abbott reflected on the now-famous speech by Prime Minister Julia Gillard attacking him as a misogynist.

Tony Abbott fronts up during his interview on 60 Minutes. Picture: Channel 9

"It wasn't fair and it wasn't true,'' he said.

He said he had said things in the past which he wouldn't say today, and believed in things that he did not believe now.

"I have changed and I like to think I have grown,'' he said.

His views on homosexuality have also changed and he now warmly accepts his sister Christine Forster as a lesbian, after she left her marriage of 19 years to be with her new partner Virginia.

"It came as a bit of a shock when someone who is close to you, who you've always thought of in a particular light, tells you that they're now to be seen in a different light,'' Mr Abbott said.

"Nevertheless, I think I was probably reasonably unfazed by it.''

Ms Forster said that when she told her brother about her new relationship he said that life threw up some difficult and sometimes terrible situations for people "but I know that you're just going to be doing the best you can to deal with that''.

Tony Abbott's sister Christine Forster on 60 Minutes. Picture: Channel 9

Marriage equality advocates say that if Mr Abbott truly accepts his lesbian sister he will accept her partner as his sister-in-law.

Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said Mr Abbott accepts his sister is in a same-sex relationship but still opposes same-sex marriage.

"You can't draw lines around other people's humanity by accepting who they are but rejecting their fundamental human rights'', Mr Croome said.

Tony Abbott told 60 Minutes he doesn't want to jinx himself by getting too cocky about the election. Picture: Channel 9

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Abbott backs senior Vic Liberals

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has given his vote of confidence to key Liberals involved in the controversy plaguing the party's Victorian branch.

Mr Abbott said former premier Ted Baillieu did a good job, that he has confidence in the new Premier Denis Napthine and the party's state director Damien Mantach, who is under investigation by anti-corruption body IBAC, is a man of integrity.

"I know Damien Mantach well," Mr Abbott told reporters in Melbourne.

"He is a person of integrity. Let's see where this investigation goes. But he has my confidence."

Mr Abbott said he was confident Dr Napthine could provide strong and stable government until the state election in November next year.

He said he had supported Mr Baillieu right up to the time he left office, but his support now rests with Dr Napthine.

"Ted is a good man and he was a good premier but there's been an orderly transition from the outgoing to the incoming premier and now I support Denis Napthine," Mr Abbott said.

Mr Abbott said he applauded Mr Baillieu for referring secret recordings of senior Liberal figures, including Mr Mantach, to the IBAC.

"The relevant watchdog will conduct its investigations and if any wrong doing has been done well obviously that will be exposed," Mr Abbott said.

"(Mr Baillieu) was acting to ensure that there is integrity in public life."

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Gillard, Abbott trade shots on immigration

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott are trading shots over which one of them is stoking fears about immigration.

Mr Abbott has accused the prime minister of demonising foreigners with a crackdown on the 457 temporary foreign worker visa program.

He said trying to turn people against them was the last thing Ms Gillard should be doing, especially in western Sydney.

People on 457 visas who have come to Australia "the right way" were the best possible migrants, the opposition leader said.

Ms Gillard hit back on Tuesday, saying Mr Abbott's words rang hollow.

"This is the man, who in the run-up to 2010 campaign and almost every day since has been out in the community ... trying to raise fear," she told Sky News, citing Mr Abbott's use of terms such as "peaceful invasion" to describe a surge in arrivals of asylum seekers by boats.

As well, the opposition leader had let his immigration spokesman Scott Morrison "stoke community fears day after day".

Ms Gillard defended her government's decision to tighten the 457 program, saying it had been riddled with rorts.

She admitted the decision had been made after she and other Labor MPs heard concerns from the community about foreign workers being preferred over Australians.

"My view is that we have a migration system that is about permanent migrants coming to our country, getting a job, being real contributors to building the nation," Ms Gillard said.

She said when there were temporary skill shortages, the government relied on 457 visas.

"But they've got to be properly administered so Australians have the reassurance of knowing if they're there with the skills, ready to do the job, then they get the job," the prime minister said.

Ms Gillard said Mr Abbott was stoking fear on the one hand while saying 457 visas would be a mainstay of the coalition's immigration system.

"Well, he needs to explain that and justify that to Australian workers who too many times worry that they or their children are going to miss out on a work opportunity," she told ABC TV.

The Migration Institute says politicians should focus on the facts around the program and not engage in a slanging match ahead of the September 14 federal election.

"I just think we need a steady mind and calm conversation going on around it, and not pitting Australian workers against some of these overseas people," chief executive Maurene Horder said.

"That's the thing I'm a little bit alarmed about - that we don't develop a political bunfight for the purposes of an election.

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Abbott supports sitting ACT senator

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has again signalled his support for incumbent ACT senator Gary Humphries, who faces a preselection battle this weekend.

Former Canberra Liberals leader Zed Seselja is challenging Senator Humphries for the top spot on the ACT Liberals senate ticket.

Mr Seselja led the Canberra Liberals to their best-ever territory election result last October, winning eight of 17 seats - although Labor still managed to retain minority government.

Mr Seselja last week stood down as ACT opposition leader to pursue preselection.

On Wednesday, Mr Abbott said he supported all of his parliamentary team.

"I've made it very clear that while I absolutely endorse competition and choice inside our party, Gary has been a fine member of my frontbench," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"I very much look forward to him continuing."

Senator Humphries, a former ACT chief minister, has represented the territory federally since 2003.

He was appointed a shadow parliamentary secretary in 2009.

The Canberra Liberals preselection vote is on Saturday.

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