Tony Abbott "can hear the drums" of an election beating and is urging Liberal National Party members to use "every fibre of our being" to make sure the coalition is elected.
The opposition leader categorically listed the faults and errors of his rival, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, in a speech to the annual LNP Convention in Queensland on Saturday.
Mr Abbott attacked Mr Rudd's policies on asylum seekers, mining and climate change, as well as government spending during the global financial crisis.
The oration to adoring party faithful was heavy with Mr Abbott's favourite one-liners - "stop the boats", "end the debt" and "abolish the carbon tax" - along with the ever present refrain that "we can be a better government".
However, apart from outlining his pledge to upgrade Queensland's Bruce Highway, the speech was light on detailing coalition policies.
Mr Abbott warned that despite Mr Rudd's faults, he was a much stronger adversary than Julia Gillard.
He urged LNP members to use "every fibre of our being" and "every waking breath" to make sure the coalition was elected.
"I've got to say I am grateful to Mr Rudd because if there's one thing he's done, he has dispelled any complacency that might have existed on our side of politics," Mr Abbott said.
"Let's be absolutely under no illusions, let's have no doubt, we have a fight on our hands.
"We don't know when the election will be but we can hear the drums beating. We can hear the drums beating, calling us, calling us to the campaign, which will make such a difference. And I know we're ready."
