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August 5th, 2013 
Peter Nolan
Updated
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott have fired their opening shots of the long-awaited federal election campaign.
The Coalition launched their bid for election pledging to immediately repeal the carbon tax, while the Government put the spotlight on jobs and families, announcing further support for the car industry and an extension of before and after-school care from next year.
Mr Rudd spent most of the day behind closed doors, but emerged at 3:00pm to announce a $450 million package for schools looking to expand before and after-school care services.
“This is a direct measure to help with the cost of living pressures and family pressures faced right across the nation,” he said.
“Organised homework is part of it but we have also seen great programs around the country whereby there is supervised physical activity, kids are taken out from behind the computer, putting balls through hoops and doing all that sort of thing.”
Earlier, Industry Minister Kim Carr announced details of a $200 million assistance package for the car industry, funding for which was set aside in last week’s mini-budget style economic update.
“I do not believe manufacturing is an industry just for the past, it’s an industry for the future,” Mr Carr said.
“It means that on a case-by-case basis, industry-sector-by-industry-sector, the Government will provide support where necessary.”
The Prime Minister said the plan had already been set aside in the budget and schools would be able to apply for grants from next year.
The money will be used to hire additional supervisors to enable high-quality programs – like music lessons and homework clubs – and allow 500 schools around the nation to open from 7:00am to 7:00pm, providing an additional 300,000 places in out-of-school care programs.
Abbott focuses on the economy, climate change policy
Mr Abbott started with day with a blitz of media appearances in Brisbane before popping up at an abattoir to highlight his plans for the first day of a Coalition government.
“Today I’ve written to the head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to say that the first act of an incoming Coalition government, should we win the election, will be to prepare the carbon tax repeal legislation,” he said.
“This will be the first item of business.”
The Opposition Leader was questioned over his claim that the meatworks was spending an extra $5 million per year because of the carbon tax.
The JBS Australia plant, near Ipswich, received $4.4 million of Federal Government funding earlier this year to improve energy and reduce its carbon emissions liability.
Mr Abbott said the $5 million cost claim was not misleading.
“They get a bill in a whole host of ways,” he said.
“There’s the bill that they pay directly for the carbon tax, and there’s the bill that they pay indirectly through – for the carbon tax through the hit on their power and gas. It’s a big, big hit on this plant.”
Earlier this year, the Federal Government said the grant could save the company $1 million in energy costs and slice their carbon price liability by nearly $800,000 a year.
“That’s an example of direct action,” Mr Abbott said.
“By supporting that grant, if I may say so with respect, you are supporting the Coalition’s direct action policy and opposing the Government’s carbon tax policy.”
Mr Abbott said the Coalition would not seek to form parliament if the election result again hung in the balance.
“Our business is a safe and secure Australia, built on a strong and prosperous economy, and we will not get that from another hung parliament, we will not get that from another minority government,” he said.
Rudd attacks Coalition over ‘appalling’ interest rates statement
Mr Abbott and Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey both made a pre-emptive strike against a possible interest rate cut tomorrow.
Economists are predicting the Reserve Bank board will cut rates when it meets tomorrow.
Mr Abbott said a rate cut would be a sign the economy is in trouble.
“If there is a cut tomorrow, that won’t be some kind of a win for the Government, it will be a result of the fact that the Reserve Bank judges our economy needs a boost,” he said.
“I’ve got to say it’s not getting a boost from the policies of this Government.”
Mr Hockey said: “We should not be in a position where interest rates are being cut because the economy should be growing faster.”
Mr Rudd described Mr Hockey’s comment as an “absolute clanger”.
“For cost of living pressures for families, Mr Abbott’s treasury spokesman says ‘You should have higher interest rates rather than lower interest rates’,” he said.
“I think it’s an appalling statement.”
Topics:
federal-election,
federal-elections,
elections,
government-and-politics,
abbott-tony,
rudd-kevin,
automotive,
industry,
business-economics-and-finance,
child-care,
family-and-children,
community-and-society,
federal-government,
australia
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Source Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-05/election-day-one-wrap/4866466
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