Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has called for a new federal election to test the government's plan for a carbon tax.
Addressing an anti-carbon tax rally outside Parliament House in Canberra the Liberal leader has told the three thousand protesters that Labor doesn't have a mandate for the tax which the government wants to introduce from July next year.
He says if the argument is as strong as Prime Minister Gillard says she should trust the people to know the truth go back to have a vote and the coalition will accept the outcome.
He says the tax which the prime minister promised during the election campaign would not go ahead will cost the average household an extra two thousand dollars a year.
"Any government which puts a $2000 a year tax on the average household and then says please be grateful, here's $300 or $400, or $1000, back in your pocket - that is not tax reform that is a tax mirage," he said.
He said he was delighted to hear Ms Gillard tell parliament this week she had learned a lot from scripture lessons at a Baptist school.
"Thou shall not bear false witness," he said.
