The Rudd government's frontbench has gone into overdrive following an admission by Tony Abbott that he sometimes doesn't tell the "gospel truth".
The opposition leader was asked on Monday night about his promise earlier this year not to propose any new taxes, which he broke a month later by announcing a levy to fund paid parental leave.
Mr Abbott said his scripted remarks could be taken as "gospel truth" but, "in the heat of discussion you go a little bit further".
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Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard came out swinging just hours after the admission, and frontbenchers kept up the scorching attack on Tuesday.
Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner was the first to hit the airwaves.
"It's kind of like the fine print on the bottom of the packet saying, `use this product, but by the way, it might kill you'," he told ABC Radio.
Treasurer Wayne Swan told Adelaide radio that Mr Abbott's was a warning to voters about his fitness for office.
"I think what happened last night was that Tony Abbott cracked under pressure," he told Fairfax Radio.
"He basically said that you can't believe a word he says and I just don't know where would leave Australia if Tony Abbott was prime minister in the middle of a global financial crisis."
Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Abbott's "extraordinary admission" went further than the doctrine of core and non-core promises espoused by former prime minister John Howard.
He also defended the government's policy backflips on emissions trading and promise to build 260 new childcare centres.
"The government has been absolutely up-front when we haven't been able to meet our commitments," he told ABC Radio.
Small Business Minister Craig Emerson said an example of Mr Abbott not being genuine was when he said the coalition would not use the phrase Work Choices, rather than ruling out a return to the industrial relations policy all together.
"What he was actually saying to the Australian people was, you elect me, I reserve the right later to bring back Work Choices and I'll say, well that was just (said) in the heat of the moment," he told Sky News.
Liberal frontbencher Ian Macfarlane came to his leader's defence describing Mr Abbott as being "very straight, very philosophical" during a high-pressure interview.
"What we are seeing from Tony is very much a straight shooter," he told Sky News, adding that voters should judge politicians on actions not words.
"When it comes to action (Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd just walks away."
Labor's criticism of Mr Abbott showed the government was desperate, Mr Macfarlane said.
"They have sent a flock of ministers out this morning, they are all running the same line, it has all been rehearsed."
