A Coalition plan to boost the number of older Australians in the workforce aims to make them an economic asset, as well as a social and cultural one.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has announced payments of up to $3250 for businesses that employ a worker aged over 50, who receives a government benefit.
The senior employment incentive payment would begin in mid-2011 under a coalition government, he said.
"I think that older people are an asset, and I want them to be an economic asset as well as a social and cultural asset," he told reporters in Brisbane.
Coalition soaring in polls
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Prime Minister Julia Gillard is in Cairns as Labor struggles to hold voter support in Queensland and NSW.
The Coalition has raced ahead of the government in the two battleground states, according to a survey of the latest Newspoll published in The Australian today.
But there's better news for Labor in South Australia and Victoria where the government has improved its standing from the 2007 election.
"I've alway said it would be a photo finish," Ms Gillard told ABC Radio, adding the campaign was proving to be a "tough, close" campaign.
Up-front payment for baby bonus
Today she announced parents of newborns will be able to receive a $500 early payment of their baby bonus.
From July 2011, eligible parents will receive a larger, more flexible advance on their Family Tax Benefit entitlement.
Under the previous Howard government's original baby bonus scheme new parents were given a lump sum payment of $5000, but the Rudd government changed the method of payment to fortnightly instalments.
If Labor is re-elected, $500 would be paid upfront in addition to the first instalment payment.
The first payment would be $868 with the remainder to be paid by way of 12 subsequent fortnightly payments of $368.
The overall amount of the bonus will remain the same, presently at $5294.
The program will cost $54.4 million over four years which Ms Gillard says will be offset with savings measures.
Libs deny smoking campaign involvement
The prime minister is demanding answers from Mr Abbott about possible Liberal Party involvement in a $5 million anti-Labor advertising blitz against government plans for tobacco plain packaging.
"Mr Abbott needs to come clean about the Liberal Party's participation in the campaign," Ms Gillard said.
Labor also is demanding the coalition submit its election promises to the Treasury for costing both sides are required to comply with the Charter of Budget Honesty before election day.
Opposition finance spokesman Andrew Robb says the Coalition is doing just that.
"We have submitted $5 billion of savings, which is about $4 billion more than the government has identified," he said, adding another set of savings would be submitted, Mr Robb said.
