It is not uncommon for politicians to switch to ‘campaign mode’ when speaking to a crowd, and Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, was no exception when he fronted a business luncheon in Penrith on Wednesday.
Despite saying that he was trying not to be “too party political”, the Penrith Valley Chamber of Commerce lunch was more like a mini-election campaign launch as Mr Abbott spruiked various reasons why the Coalition should win government.
The crowd of local business leaders were informed prior to the event that Mr Abbott would not be taking questions like many guest speakers before him.
It was in stark contrast to Labor’s Finance Minister, Penny Wong, who was grilled by the same crowd over the carbon tax just last year.
Mr Abbott said one of the biggest problems of the Gillard Government was that they were too concerned about redistributing wealth that they had forgotten how to create it in the first place.
“Western Sydney is or should be an economic powerhouse and is home to millions of people who quite rightly want a better life,” he said.
“I know you can’t turn back the clock, but what you can do is put in place the policies that are proven to deliver prosperity in the past and can deliver prosperity in the future.”
If a change of government took place, Mr Abbott said the Coalition would reduce taxes by repealing the carbon tax, reducing business red tape costs and improving infrastructure.
Mr Abbott was well supported by his Liberal colleagues including Senator, Marise Payne, Penrith MP, Stuart Ayres and Lindsay candidate, Fiona Scott.
Lindsay MP David Bradbury slammed Mr Abbott for not having a question and answer session with luncheon guests in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
