Abbott rallies troops against carbon tax

28 May 2011, 6:03 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Tony Abbott says the carbon tax will make the cost of living soar.(SBS)

Tony Abbott says the carbon tax will make the cost of living soar.(SBS)

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rallied the party faithful in Victoria against the Gillard government's proposed carbon tax.

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Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rallied the party faithful in Victoria against the Gillard government's proposed carbon tax.

Mr Abbott received a warm reception and a few standing ovations when he addressed hundreds of party members at the Liberals' State Council meeting at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Saturday.

The Liberal Party would stand up for working Australians and the "forgotten families", he said.

Mr Abbott dedicated a large part of his almost 30-minute address to rallying party members against the proposed carbon tax.

The tax would result in the "slow strangulation of manufacturing in Australia" and send the cost of living soaring, he said.

"A go-it-alone carbon tax in Australia does not mean that we will use less steel, less aluminum, less cement, less glass and less plastic," Mr Abbott said.

"What it means is that all of these will be imported from countries that have not engaged in the same act of economic self-harm."

Mr Abbott said the party would dedicate itself to stopping the carbon tax but would need its members to help spread its message.

"We have to stop this tax," he said.

"We have to take our country back - not for us, but for everyone.

"My colleagues and I will not rest until we save Australia from this toxic tax."

Motions concerning carbon tax and climate change also featured on the party's agenda on Saturday.

A motion calling for the Liberal Party to reject any "climate change justified taxes" was passed.

Another calling on the party to condemn the carbon tax was also supported.

A motion calling on the party to reject quotas for women on company boards will be raised on Sunday.

The Young Liberal Movement put forward this motion, stating that mandatory female representation was an insult to the many successful women in business.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu will address members on Sunday, when he is expected to thank them for their contribution to the coalition's victory at the state election last November.

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