Abbott snubs Lib candidate at factory

Opposition leader Tony Abbott toured an Adelaide drinks factory on day three of the election campaign and snubbed the local candidate for Makin.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott ventured into safe Labor territory on day three of the election campaign promoting his $5 billion plan to cut company tax to the workers he says it will benefit.

First stop was a soft drinks factory in Salisbury, north of Adelaide, in the Labor seat of Makin held by Tony Zappia on a relatively safe 12 per cent margin.

Liberal candidate Sue Lawrie joined Mr Abbott and shadow treasurer Joe Hockey on an inspection of the production line at Bickfords, which employs about 175 people nationwide and 120 in South Australia.

The coalition formally announced its policy to lower the company tax rate by 1.5 percentage points within two years, if it wins government on September 7.

"This is very, very good news for the workers of Australia, the businesses of Australia and the people of Australia," Mr Abbott said as he made the announcement earlier in the day.

He reiterated the point at Bickfords.

"We are today reducing company tax so that your job security increases," Mr Abbott said.

This could be the biggest ticket item of this campaign, so the attention was firmly on Mr Abbott.

Ms Lawrie didn't get an opportunity to address the media pack, unlike the Liberal candidates running for marginal seats visited by her leader earlier in the week.

But the former Telstra worker, who's been working for Liberal front bencher Christopher Pyne, didn't feel snubbed.

"I wasn't expecting anything," she told AAP.

"This is really Tony's day."

Ms Lawrie ran as the Liberal candidate in the seat of Port Adelaide in the last state election, earning a 13 per cent swing in her favour, but still falling short.

"If I replicate that I'm easily home and hosed," she said.

Mr Abbott's second event on Wednesday was a campaign launch for Liberal candidate Carmen Garcia, who's running for Adelaide, held with a 7.5 per cent margin by Labor frontbencher Kate Ellis.

The leader talked up his tax cut and emphasised Ms Garcia's Fillipino background.

"Carmen is one of many candidates who aren't part of that old Anglo establishment that used to so characterise our party," Mr Abbott said.

"I'm so proud of people who have come to this country not to change us but to join us."

If Ms Garcia unseats Ms Ellis she'll be the first federal MP of Fillipino descent.

The 34-year-old mother has run a not-for-profit multicultural youth service and worked with refugees, some of whom came to Australia on asylum seeker boats.

Ms Garcia says the coalition's policies to stop the boats are about humanity.

"We don't want to see any more deaths at sea," she told AAP.

"I don't think it's more humane letting people with opportunity and means, that can afford to pay for plane tickets and make several travels to Australia, to jump the queue."


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Source: AAP


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