RAYMOND TERRACE (Paterson): Gillard visits pub in NSW
Julia Gillard then made an appearance at the Lakeside Village
Tavern in Raymond Terrace in the seat of Paterson (0.6% LIB).

Gillard talked with locals as she drank beer and played Keno.

CANBERRA (Canberra): Gillard announces parental leave for dads
Gillard then made the short trip to the National Press Club in Canberra,
where she delivered her final campaign speech. As well as predicting
a close result, Gillard announced a two-week paid paternity leave plan
for new dads. The scheme would start from July 2012 with eligible new
fathers paid the minimum wage of $570 a week.

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Abbott and Gillard hold second
public forum in Brisbane
Gillard then appeared at Broncos Leagues Club in Brisbane,
to take part in the second public forum of the election
campaign.

Undecided voters asked the questions, with economic
management, gay marriage and the disposal of Kevin
Rudd all on the agenda.

“If Kevin were here tonight, what he would be saying
to this audience is that he’s come off a sick bed to
campaign for there-election of my government,” said
Gillard. In an audience vote conducted after the event,
Gillard was the winner by 83 votes to 75.

WELSHPOOL (Swan): Gillard makes whirlwind trip to the west
Julia Gillard visited Welshpool in the seat of Swan in Western Australia
yesterday, where she spent a few hours laying a wreath at a war
memorial and speaking with reporters at a local factory.

After spending just a day in Perth, Gillard was back on the plane to
Brisbane, where she took part in a town hall forum with Tony Abbott.

Gillard defended her whirlwind trip to the west, telling reporters that
all votes were important. “This trip is about me saying to the people
of Western Australia their votes count on Saturday,” she said.

MACKAY (Dawson): Gillard talks up the economy in north
Queensland
Julia Gillard blitzed far north Queensland yesterday, as she
tries to keep the economy on the agenda ahead of Saturday’s
poll.

As well as visiting a workshop in Mackay, the prime minister
took in Townsville and Emerald. Labor is trying to improve its
standing in the key state, after they were damaged by Kevin
Rudd’s dumping.

The local member for Dawson is Mike Brunker, who was involved
in a controversial fracas with the president of the Bowen Turf
Club over the weekend. When asked about the stoush, Gillard
said she was in Mackay to talk about the economy.

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Gillard launches Labor campaign
in Brisbane
Gillard is in Brisbane today, where she is launching the Labor
Party campaign in front of party faithful at the Brisbane
Convention Centre.

Wayne Swan, Anna Bligh and Bob Hawke spoke at the event,
as Kevin Rudd watched on from the front row. It was a largely
substance-free launch, as Gillard trialed hernew “Yes we will”
campaign slogan.

Meanwhile, it was left to Wayne Swan to bring the zingers,
as he told the crowd that Abbott wanted to take Australia
back to a time “when broadband was something on your hat”.

DIAMOND CREEK (McEwen): Gillard visits U13s Aussie rules
grand final
Gillard was in Diamond Creek in the super marginal Victorian seat
of McEwen (0.00% LIB) on Sunday, where she watched South
Morang take on Research in an Under 13s Aussie rules grand final.

For the record, Research stormed home in the last quarter to win
the premiership flag by a comfortable margin.

BALLINA (Page): Gillard announces $46m farmers carbon
credit scheme
Gillard visited a farm near Ballina in the marginal Labor seat of
Page (2.4% ALP) on Saturday, where she announced a $46
million scheme that would allow farmers to sell carbon credits
that they earn from progressive farming practices.

Gillard said farmers could earn $500 million over the next decade
by selling their credits on the international market.

“This is a scheme where polluters pay; they pay because they’re
the ones who buy credits,” said Gillard.

BLACKTOWN (Greenway): Gillard pledges $334m to boost
apprenticeship numbers
Julia Gillard has pledged $334 million plan to boost apprenticeship
numbers in occupations with skills shortages.

Under the scheme, apprentices will be offered a $1700 tax-exempt
bonus to buy tools, service their ute or pay for registration.

“It’s a clear and comprehensive agenda to get Australia back into
jobs, to spread the dignity and purpose of work and to end the
corrosive aimlessness of welfare,” said Gillard.

SUNSHINE (Maribyrnong): Gillard talks jobs in Melbourne’s
west
A short flight across the pond and Gillard remained in safe
Labor territory when she visited a steel factory in Sunshine
in Melbourne’s west, talking up an increase in the number
of people looking for jobs (rather than discussing the rise in
the number of unemployed).

MIDWAY POINT (Lyons): Gillard launches NBN in Tassie
Julia Gillard began her day in Tasmania yesterday where she
launched Labor’s National Broadband Network (NBN).

Tasmania is the first state to start rolling out fibre optic
broadband services and Labor was given a boost by the
NBN Co’s announcement the network would be 10 times
faster than originally promised, with a capacity of one
gigabit a second.

“The future is here and the future is this national broadband
investment,” said Gillard

ROOTY HILL (Chifley): Gillard and Abbott hold town hall
session at Rooty Hill RSL
Julia Gillard then took the short trip to Rooty Hill RSL, where
she held a “town hall” style question and answer session with
Tony Abbott.

Gillard endured a tougher grilling than Abbott on the treatment
of Kevin Rudd, climate change and same-sex unions.

According to a post-forum secret ballot of the audience of
200 swinging voters, Abbott won the night by 35.5% to
30%, with 34.5% still undecided.

PARRAMATTA (Parramatta): Gillard announces plans
for $2.6bn Parramatta to Epping rail link
Gillard took the flight north to Sydney yesterday, where she
visited Parramatta railway station to announce a $2.6 billion
plan to build a Parramatta to Epping rail link.

The prime minister faced inevitable questions about whether
the project would actually go ahead, particularly given NSW’s
poor record when it comes to delivering transport projects.

The project, which has been abandoned in previous years,
will see the federal government kick in $2.1 billion, with the
NSW government covering the remaining $520 million.

PACKENHAM (La Trobe): Gillard announces welfare
reforms in suburban Melbourne
Julia Gillard began her day in Pakenham, in Melbourne’s outer
suburbs, where she announced a string of welfare reforms,
including $6000 for unemployed people to relocate for work,
a $2500 incentive for employers to take on relocated workers
and tougher penalties for jobseekers who skip employment
service appointments.

The PM also announced that there would be cuts to income
support payments for parents who did not take their children
for health checks.

MELBOURNE (Melbourne): Julia Gillard appears on
7pm Project
Gillard then made the short trip up the Princes Freeway
to appear on Channel 10’s 7pm Project
in Melbourne.

Gillard turned on the charisma during the interview, with
Melbourne shock jock Steve Price accusing her of trying
to “charm” her way into the Lodge.

BELMONT (Corangamite): Gillard opens GP super clinic
in Geelong
Gillard then made brief campaign stop in the Victorian regional
city of Geelong, where she opened a GP super clinic in the
suburb of Belmont.

Gillard also pledged $257.5 million to complete the duplication
of the Princes Highway to Colac.

The seat of Corangamite is one of the few Victorian marginals
at the upcoming election, with incumbent Labor MP Darren
Cheeseman holding the seat by 0.9%.

ADELAIDE (Adelaide): Gillard to sign up to Murray-Darling
water plan
Julia Gillard began her day in Adelaide yesterday, where
she announced a Labor government would sign up to the
Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s water plan.

The report — which has been delayed until after the election
 — sets out the Authority’s plan to save the troubled river
system.

Gillard said the money for water buy-backs had already
been budgeted for the next four years.

ADELAIDE (Adelaide): Gillard appears on Q&A
Gillard then flew to Adelaide to take part in a solo
appearance on ABC TV’s Q&A.

The PM was questioned on her accent, her red hair,
as well as the Building the Education Revolution
program, tax policy and climate change and the
dumping of Kevin Rudd.

PERTH (Canning): Gillard announces cash for schools
and teachers
Julia Gillard has announced that schools and teachers
will be given cash incentives under a rewards program
to improve teaching.

The $388m program would offer $100,000 for secondary
schools and $75,000 for primary schools that show
improvement in student learning.

Labor also plans to give a 10 per cent salary bonus to
the top 10 per cent of teachers in 2013.

DARWIN (Solomon): Gillard makes an array of
announcements in Darwin
Julia Gillard then put some space between herself
and former Labor leaders in Darwin on Sunday.

Gillard announced funding for affordable housing
in the Top End, the introduction of a ‘No School,
No Play’ initiative and an extension of the national
chaplaincy program.

SCARBOROUGH (Petrie): Gillard makes $94m pitch for
the grey vote
Julia Gillard flew to Brisbane and headed for Scarborough
in the seat of Petrie on Saturday, where she announced
that pensioners would be able to earn up to $6500 a year
and keep their full benefits.

However Gillard’s pitch for the grey vote, worth $94 million,
was overshadowed by her awkward meeting with Kevin
Rudd earlier in the day.

To make matters worse, former ALP leader Mark Latham
also reappeared on the trail, this time as a self-loathing
Channel Nine journalist.

MELBOURNE (Melbourne): Gillard denies intentionally
calling her opponent Mr Rabbit
Julia Gillard was in Melbourne on Friday, where she joined
Jon Faine for an interview on ABC Radio.

Amongst other questions, Faine directly pressed Gillard on
her propensity to refer to her opponent as “Mr Rabbit”
instead of “Mr Abbott”.

“Mr Rabbit? What do you mean,” she said when asked by
Faine about her diction. “I’m sorry. I will try and be more
precise … having been counselled to do so.”

TOWNSVILLE (Herbet): Gillard pledges $160m for Townsville ring road
Julia Gillard was in Townsville, in the marginal seat of Herbert (0.03% ALP)
yesterday, where she kicked in for a $160 million upgrade of the Townsville
ring road. Gillard said the funding amounted to 80% of the project’s cost.

“Without action, the traffic volumes that you’re going to see on Shaw Road
and the Bruce Highway on the intersection there, you’re going to see 64,000
vehicles there a day by 2021,” she said.

CAIRNS (Leichhardt): Gillard announces $54m fast-track
of baby bonus
Julia Gillard was in Cairns yesterday, where she promised to
give families with young children earlier access to the baby bonus.

Gillard said families will be allowed to bring forward $500 of the
benefit to help pay for unexpected expenses. Gillard said the
initiative would cost $54 million over four years.

“Families know what it’s like to come up against an unexpected
problem,” said Gillard.

WARNERVALE (Dobell): Gillard announces $10m subsidy
for soccer stadium
Julia Gillard toured the NSW central coast yesterday, where
she kicked in $10 million towards the construction of the Central
Coast Mariners stadium.

Gillard said the subsidy would help build a $39 million sporting
complex, complete with a 120-room hotel and a hydrotherapy
centre.

The Mariners expressed their thanks on behalf of the marginal
seat of Dobell by presenting the PM with a team jersey inscribed
with “Gillard 10”.

EMU PLAINS (Lindsay): Gillard announces $668m
increase in Family Tax Benefit
Julia Gillard has pledged a substantial increase in the
Family Tax Benefit for parents of older teenage students.

The $668 m increase will lift the maximum benefit payment
for student children aged between 16 and 18 years from
$51.24 a fortnight to $208 from January 1, 2012.

“This policy is affordable, it will be fully offset, not one
cent going on the budget bottom line,” said Gillard

DOCKLANDS (Melbourne Ports): Gillard attends Western
Bulldogs match
Julia Gillard made the trip south to Melbourne on Sunday for
a Western Bulldogs match at Etihad Stadium. The Bulldogs
won the game by 71 points, much to the delight of the
number one ticket holder:

SYDNEY (Sydney): Gillard announces low-fee super
scheme
Julia Gillard took the opportunity to announce a low-fee
superannuation scheme in Sydney on Sunday morning.

Gillard said the "My Super" scheme would have lower
fees of up to 30 per cent and would lift retirement
savings for a 30-year-old worker by $40,000.

DARLING HARBOUR (Sydney): Gillard attends function
at Darling Harbour Convention Centre
After a hard day on the campaign trail Gillard made a quick
cross-country dash to attend the Heart to Heart Ball at the
Darling Harbour Convention Centre in Sydney on Saturday
night.

According to AAP: “Gillard shucked her politician’s garb to
present herself at her sparkling best in a black strapless
gown by Australian brand Simona, and matching chiffon
shawl and black heels to attend the event with her partner
Tim”.

PERTH (Perth): Gillard promises $480m to improve
roads in Perth
Julia Gillard was in Perth on Friday, where she promised
$480 million to improve roads in and around Perth Airport.

State Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said the funding
should not be at the expense of West Australians through
the proposed mineral resource rent tax.

BLACKBURN (Deakin): Gillard pledges $182m for people
with disabilities
Julia Gillard was in Blackburn in the seat of Deakin yesterday,
where she pledged $182 million in extra funding for people
with disabilities.

The policy includes $12,000 annual rebates to assist with
early intervention programs for young children with disabilities
and an additional 150 supported accommodation places for
people with severe disabilities. Gillard also offered incentives
to business for hiring disabled workers.

ADELAIDE (Adelaide): Gillard announces $100m funding
for stormwater drains
Julia Gillard has announced a $100 million pledge to improve
stormwater drains across Australia. Gillard said the funds
would be used for stormwater projects that will help secure
water supplies across Australia, with a project in eastern
Adelaide set to be given $10 million first.

"We simply cannot afford to let precious water go to waste,"
said Gillard.

ADELAIDE (Adelaide): Gillard defends against
leaked cabinet allegations
Julia Gillard has defended herself against leaked cabinet
allegations that she opposed two of the former Rudd
government's biggest welfare increases.

During a cagey press conference held in Adelaide, Gillard
defended her record on paid parental leave and a pension
increases.

"I have devoted my adult life to what I have advocated,
to who I am, to the question of equality between men
and women in this country,” Gillard said.

“I wouldn’t have put this country in a position where we
increase the pension and then have to increase taxes.”

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Gillard pledges $740m
for rail link in Brisbane marginals
Gillard remained in Brisbane today, where she
pledged $740 million of federal money to help
build a rail link to Redcliffe, north of Brisbane.

The line — which locals have been promised for
decades — will slice through a number of north
Brisbane marginal seats (on an existing land
corridor — no messy resumptions during an
election campaign).

The Liberals immediately matched the commitment.

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Gillard promises $277 for
mental health
Julia Gillard has promised an immediate boost of $277
million for suicide prevention measures, saying that
mental heath is a second-term priority for a Labor gover-
nment.

The plan would provide psychological counselling servi-
ces for 12,500 people who have attempted suicide or
are at risk of suicide, 20,000 specialist psychiatry ses-
sions for people with severe mental illness and funding
for the careers of mentally ill people.

The announcement comes after Tony Abbott promised
$1.5 billion towards mental health services.

KIRRIBILLI (North Sydney): Gillard joins FIFA
for Kirribilli House dinner
Julia Gillard has joined a FIFA delegation for a
dinner at Kirribilli House in Sydney.

The FIFA visiting delegation are in Australia to
inspectfacilities as part of Australia’s bid for the
2022 World Cup.

Gillard was joined by New South Wales Premier
Kristina Keneally. Word is yet to filter through
about any pearl necklaces being handed out.

LAUNCESTON (Bass): Gillard ponies up $96m
for emergency doctor and nurse training
Julia Gillard has announced that a re-elected Labor
government would plough $96 million into emergency
doctor and nurse training.

Speaking at the Launceston General Hospital on
Monday, Gillard said that the commitment was new
money before being forced to admit it had already
been allocated in the May budget.

Gillard’s pledge would mean 2000 new emergency
nurses, emergency experience for 1000 student
nurses and 270 additional emergency doctors.

BARTON (Canberra): Gillard and Abbott duke it
out at leaders’ debate
Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have fought out a polite
debate at the Press Club this evening with neither
leader landing a decisive blow.

Abbott and Gillard were on message throughout the
performance, repeating many of the key themes
of the campaign.

Nine Network’s Worm delivered victory to Gillard by a
margin of 63 per cent to 37 per cent, while Seven’s
Polliegraph said Labor won the debate 53 per cent to
47 per cent.

BEENLEIGH (Forde): Gillard announces $340m
‘cash for clunkers’ program
Julia Gillard has announced a new $2000 rebate
for car owners who trade in their pre-1995 vehicles.

Gillard said that the $394m program that the
rebate would only apply when motorists purchased
extra-efficient vehicles.

“Australians own a lot of old motor cars, and those
old cars guzzle a lot of petrol and they spew out a
lot of pollution,” said Gillard.

ST LUCIA (Ryan): Gillard announces $1bn
investment in renewable energy
Labor’s new climate change policy will include
tougher standards for coal power stations and
$1bn to connect renewable energy to the grid,
Julia Gillard has announced today.

A new ‘citizens assembly’ will also be set up in
order to establish a ‘concensus’ amongst the
public about climate change.

MURWILLUMBAH (Richmond): Gillard and
Abbott attend funeral of fallen digger
Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have taken a break
from the campaign to attend the funeral of soldier
Nathan Bewes, who died in Afghanistan
earlier this month.

The pair will resume their campaigning tomorrow,
when Gillard will head to Brisbane while Abbott
will fly west to campaign in Perth.

Leichhart (GRAYNDLER): Gillard takes it
to the street in western Sydney
Team Moving Forward’s media minders let JG
off the leash yesterday afternoon as she took
her first street walk in Anthony Albanese’s safe
seat of Grayndler.

According to the ABC, there were no big surprises
during the brief foray, however one woman did
tell Gillard that she had “stuffed up” on asylum
seekers.

Blacktown (GREENWAY): Gillard announces
50,000 new work experience places
Julia Gillard was back in western Sydney this
morning where she announced 50,000 work
experience places for students undertaking
a national trades cadetship.

JG spruiked the initiative at a car dealership in
Blacktown. “Just met with apprentices from the
Apprentice Kickstart Scheme at Trivett Honda in
Blacktown. Australia needs more apprentices,”
she said via Twitter.

Melbourne (MELBOURNE): Gillard uses union
address to savage Abbott over Workchoices
Julia Gillard has attacked Tony Abbott’s mixed
Workchoices messages in an address to the trade
union faithful in Melbourne last night.

“Tony Abbott believes in Work Choices and he will
expose Australia to its worst elements,” she said
to deafening applause.

Gillard was attending a farewell dinner for former
ACTU boss Sharan Burrow at the Melbourne
Museum.

RICHMOND (Macquarie): Gillard promises $3m
national trade cadetships scheme
An elected Labor government would introduce a
national trades cadetship scheme, Julia Gillard
has announced today.

Speaking at the Richmond High School, Gillard said
that the scheme would help young people move
into a trade. The $3 million program would enable
vocational education and training to be recognised at
school and count towards future qualifications.

ULTIMO (Sydney): Kerry O’Brien grills Gillard

Image source: ABC
Julia Gillard flew from Townsville to Sydney last night
where she was grilled by Kerry O’Brien on the 7.30
Report.

Red Julia copped an assortment of questions from a
prickly Red Kezza, with asylum seekers, mining taxes
and, of course, ‘moving forward’ all coming under the
spotlight.

Video:
Kerry grills Julia on the 7.30 Report

Crikey coverage:
Crikey says: Straight from Kerry’s mouth

TOWNSVILLE (Herbet): Gillard campaigns in
north Queensland
The Powerfox continued to spruik her regional
housing affordability policy in Queensland today,
as Team Moving Forward took the campaign bus to
Townsville. Herbert is one of a swathe of crucial
sunshine state seats and is currently on a knife-edge
margin of 0.3% Labor after a redistribution.

Gillard was on message throughout the presser
and took the opportunity to announce 15 extra
rehabilitation beds for the local hospital.

Crikey coverage:
Bernard Keane: Essential: Gillard thrashing Abbott
as preferred PM

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Gillard pledges $200m
for housing affordability
Julia Gillard spent the first full day of the campaign
in Brisbane, where she pledged $200 million to
local councils for regional housing affordability.

Queensland is crucial to Labor’s chances of being
reelected and Gillard showed the lengths she will
go to by resorting to some good old-fashioned
baby-kissing.

Video:
Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek talks regional
housing affordability

Crikey coverage:
Bernard Keane: Both sides hit the ground running –
away from former policies

CANBERRA (Canberra): Gillard calls the election
The 2010 election will be held on Saturday
21 August, Julia Gillard announced in the
Prime Minister’s courtyard after visiting the
Governor-General Quentin Bryce at 10.40
to dissolve Parliament. Tea and scones
may or may not have been involved.

Video:
Watch Julia Gillard’s opening statement

Crikey coverage:
Bernard Keane: And we’re off

SYDNEY (Sydney): Abbott campaigns over night in
Sydney marginals
Tony Abbott then took a turn on the media bus, where he
spoke candidly with journalists about the stresses of life on
the campaign trail, surviving on coffee and sometimes only
three hours’ sleep. Abbott also told journalists that he would
not sleep for 36 hours of continuous campaigning:

“I love them [voters] and I want to meet as many of them
as I can over the next 36 hours.”

Tony Abbott then took the campaign blitz to Sydney, where
he shared a beer with locals, played some late-night tennis
and visited a police station.

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Abbott visits fruit market in Brisbane
Tony Abbott began his day at the Brisbane Produce Markets,
where he was greeted by excited early morning fruiterers.
One worker embraced Abbott, while another praised the
opposition leader’s manliness. “We need tough men who are
going to make this country good,” Darius Kabengele, a worker
at the markets, said.

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Abbott and Gillard
hold second public forum in Brisbane
Tony Abbott then made the trip to Brisbane,
where he took on Julia Gillard in the second
public forum of the election campaign.

Abbott fielded questions on the GFC, HECS
debts and, of course, the “dead, buried,
cremated” body of WorkChoices. “As far as
I am concerned, the lesson is absolutely,
totally learned. It is gone forever, under
any name, just gone,” he said.

GLADSTONE (Flynn): Abbott talks down the mining tax in QLD
Tony Abbott was campaigning in Gladstone in the marginal seat of
Flynn yesterday, where he got behind the wheel of a Caterpillar
bulldozer and talked with workers about Labor’s mining tax.

He also told reporters the final days of the campaign will be primarily
held in Queensland and western Sydney.”Sensibly, in the last few
days of the campaign, I am going to focus on the areas where the
most swinging seats are,” he said.

ULITMO (Sydney): Abbott appears on 7.30 Report
Abbott then went on The 7.30 Report in Sydney, where
Kerry O’Brien persisted with questions about the ridiculous
debate debate.

There was some resolution to the will-we-or-won’t-we
debate issue, with Julia Gillard confirming she’ll attend a
town hall-style forum in Brisbane tonight, but is still
pushing Abbott to debate her on the economy for a full
hour (as opposed to Abbott’s favoured half-hour).

CANBERRA (Canberra): Abbott announces youth employment
incentives
Tony Abbott addressed the National Press Club in Canberra yesterday,
where he outlined his scheme that offers unemployed young people up
to $6,500 for finding and keeping jobs.

The bonus would see people under the age of 30 receive payments of
$6500 if they can stay off the dole for more than 12 months. If they keep
the job for two years they will receive a further incentive of $4,000.

Abbott defended his decision not to provide costings on how much the
policy would cost. “This is a policy of incentives; it’s not a policy of
punishment,” Abbott said.

PENRITH (Lindsay): Abbott blitzes western Sydney
marginals
Tony Abbott is visiting marginal western Sydney today,
as he blitzes the seats of Macquarie, Lindsay, Hughes,
Macarthur and Greenway.

It wasn’t all beer and skittles for the Opposition Leader
however, after he was forced to cancel a train trip from
the Blue Mountains to Penrith when “union organisers”
got word of his plans.

PENRITH (Lindsay): Abbott shares a beer with locals in
western Sydney
Abbott was back in western Sydney on Sunday night, where
heshared a beer with locals at the Penrith Panthers club.

Abbott copped some stick for his drink of choice — a light beer
 — of which he only drank half. “I know, I know, and I call myself
a real Aussie bloke,” he joked.

PERTH (Perth): Abbott pledges $418.3m in incentives for
miners
Abbott was in Perth on Saturday, where he announced $418.3
million in incentives for the mining industry. The initiatives include
$150 million for an exploration and development program, with
most of the funding to be redirected from the carbon capture
and storage funding.

“Now it is safer to invest in Argentina, in Tanzania, in Zambia
and Ghana and in Botswana than it is to invest in Australia,”
said Abbott at the launch.

NUNAWADING (Deakin): Abbott unveils $345m education package
Tony Abbott has unveiled a $345 million education package in Melbourne
today, saying that principals would be able to reward the best teachers
more.

Abbott’s policy would include $120 million in grants for schools to improve
technology and a $200 million fund to boost the pay packets of high-
achieving teachers.

“It is important that teachers get properly rewarded,” said Abbott.

PENRITH (Lindsay): Abbott announces extra help for military
veterans
Tony Abbott began his day at the Penrith RSL yesterday, where
he announced extra help for military veterans.

Under the Coalition plan Abbott has pledged to index the Defence
Force Retirement Benefits Fund, as well as helping disabled veterans
cover out-of-pocket medicine costs.

Wayne Swan slammed the plan, accusing Abbott of creating a potential
$8 billion hole in the budget (Swan’s calculations stretch over 40
years).

ROOTY HILL (Chifley): Gillard and Abbott hold town hall
session at Rooty Hill RSL
Tony Abbott then took the short trip to Rooty Hill RSL, where she
held a “town hall” style question and answer session with Julia
Gillard.

Abbott faced questions on WorkChoices, his toppling of Malcolm
Turnbull, property values, his alternative to the NBN and how to
tackle the problem of illicit drug use.

According to a post-forum secret ballot of the audience of 200
swinging voters, Abbott won the night by 35.5% to 30%,
with 34.5% still undecided.

SYDNEY (Sydney): Tony Abbott speaks on Aboriginal
disadvantage
Abbott then flew to Sydney, where he made made a speech
on promoting opportunities for Aboriginal people.

Abbott noted indigenous issues had not played much of a role
in the election campaign, saying Aboriginal people should be
treated like normal members of society and not as a “cultural
curiosity”.

GOOLWA (Mayo): Abbott announces Murray-Darling
policy
Tony Abbott was on South Australia’s Hindmarsh Island
yesterday, where he announced a $750 million investment
in infrastructure and basin communities to help rescue
the ailing Murray-Darling river system.

Abbott also promised to immediately purchase an extra 150
billion litres of water to save the Lower Lakes and Coorong
wetlands at a cost of $20 million.

Abbott also warned the Coalition would hold a referendum
on federal control of the Murray-Darling Basin if states fail
to deliver water reforms.

SYDNEY (Sydney): Tony Abbott appears on 7.30 Report
Tony Abbott made an appearance on 7.30 Report, last night
where he was quizzed about the Coalition’s broadband policy.

When questioned about peak speeds by Kerry O’Brien,
Abbott was honest about his lack of understanding:
“I’m no Bill Gates,” he said. “If you want to drag me into
a technical discussion here, I’m not going to be very good
at it.”

NORTH SYDNEY (North Sydney): Abbott makes speech at
daughters’ school
Tony Abbott made an address about fatherhood at his daughters’
Sydney school, Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College, yesterday.

The speech, part of a fundraiser, provided a glimpse into Abbott’s
family life. The Mad Monk told the audience that one day his daughter
called him a “lame, gay, churchy loser” when he asked her to do
something she didn’t want to do.

SYDNEY (Sydney): Abbott absent from Coalition broadband
policy announcement
The Coalition’s long-awaited broadband policy announcement
was made yesterday day by shadow communications minister
Tony Smith and Finance spokesman Andrew Robb.

Tony Abbott was nowhere to be seen for the presser, at which
the opposition pledged to deliver a 12-100 Mbps service to 97%
of households, using a combination of existing HFC cable, DSL
and fixed wireless.

SYDNEY (Sydney): Abbott and Scott Morrison press
Labor on Nauru processing centre
Tony Abbott began the day with a press conference at
Sydney’s Intercontinental Hotel, which was first about
broadband and then about immigration
policy.

Abbott was joined by shadow immigration minister Scott
Morrison, who has just returned from a 14-hour flying visit
to Nauru.

FORTITUDE VALLEY (Brisbane): Tony Abbott presses flesh at Ekka
Tony Abbott took in all the fun of the Brisbane Show today, the scene of Julia
Gillard’s run in with Mark Latham.

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Abbott launches Coalition campaign
in Brisbane
At the Coalition campaign launch on Sunday, Tony Abbott made
a broad pitch for election on the platform of a stable and drama-
free government.

There was little in the way of substantial policy at the launch,
however Abbott did set out his plan for the first 90 days of a
Coalition government

KINGLAKE WEST (MacEwen): Abbott makes pledge for
fire warning system in Kinglake
Tony Abbott was in Kinglake West on Saturday, where he
pledged to support all recommendations of the Bushfires
Royal Commission and promised $10 million towards a fire
early warning system.

Abbott then flew to Brisbane where he met Nauru President
Marcus Stephen to discuss plans to reopen an asylum seeker
processing centre on the island.

DEVONPORT (Braddon): Abbott promises to set up $85m
in health infrastructure
Tony Abbott was in Devenport in Tasmania on Friday, where he
promised to set up an $85 million health infrastructure fund.

Abbott said the fund would help fill gaps in local health services
that were “usually” created by state Labor governments.

“The health infrastructure fund is the kind of fund that I always
wished I had when I was the health minister in government,” he
said.

CROWS NEST (North Sydney): Abbott launches $3.6b health plan
Tony Abbott was in Crows Nest in Sydney’s north yesterday where he
announced his $3.1 billion health policy.

Under the policy every hospital would be run by its own community board
and there would be 2800 new hospital beds over the next four years.

“It’s a smarter spend than Labor’s, not a greater spend,” Abbott said.

KALLANGUR (Dickson): Tony Abbott pledges $32.5m for
seniors initiatives
Tony Abbott was chasing the grey vote in Kallangur yesterday,
where he pledged payments of up to $3250 for businesses that
employ workers aged over 50.

Abbott said the senior employment incentive payment, along
with other initiatives, would cost $32.5 million.

“It’s not enough to back the employment of seniors with mere
words and good wishes, it must be backed with hard benefit,”
he said.

THORNLANDS (Bowman): Tony Abbott confirms $3b paid
parental leave scheme
Tony Abbott has announced his $3 billion a year paid parental
leave scheme will not take effect until July 1, 2012 and big
business will pay less tax to fund it.

Abbott’s scheme — which will be financed by a 1.5 per cent
levy on the nation’s 3370 largest firms — will allow women to
stay at home with their baby for 26 weeks on their full pay,
up to a cap of $150,000.

Abbott said his plan offers working mothers “real money for
real time”.

CAIRNS (Leichhardt): Abbott woos tourism vote with
$90m pledge
Tony Abbott has visited the tourism mecca of Cairns today to
announce a $90 million Coalition pledge to help attract visitors
to Australia.

The package includes a $40 million fund that would provide
grants of up to $100,000 to build infrastructure for tourism
projects. Abbott took the opportunity to meet with the staff
of a local Great Barrier Reef ferry service while making the
announcement.

“You make me feel very powerful, sitting up here,” Abbott
told the captain from the bridge of his catamaran.

GERRINGONG (Gilmore): Abbott announces a $935m package
for aged care

The opposition leader was in Gerringong on the NSW south coast
on Sunday announcing a $935 million package for aged care. The
funding boost matches the Labor commitment.

“We are investing the same as the government proposes to invest,
but we think this will produce more concrete results,” said Abbott.

DARWIN (Solomon): Abbott pledges free medical and
dental care for defence families

Tony Abbott flew to Darwin, in the marginal seat of Solomon,
on Saturday where he pledged free basic medical and dental
care to the families of serving defence personnel.

“It should ensure that all Defence families get access at no
cost to the basic medical and dental treatment that they
have a right to expect,” he said.

ADELAIDE (Adelaide): Abbott promises $314m to support
students with disabilities
Tony Abbott was in Adelaide on Friday, where he promised
$314m to support school students with disabilities.

The funding announcement trumps the amount announced by
Julia Gillard a few days earlier.

"It will enable pupils with a disability to choose the school that
they most wanted to go to … I’d like to think that it’s a
breakthrough initiative,” said Abbott.

MELBOURNE (Melbourne): Abbott promises $179m
to tackle organised gangs
Tony Abbott has promised to spend $179 million to tackle
organised gangs and knife crime if the Coalition is elected.

Abbott said the Coalition would target gang crime with a
national squad and database. While law and order is typically
the domain of state governments, Abbott claimed more
could be done on a national basis.

“The current government has let our country down when
it comes to policing,” said Abbott.

SYDNEY (Sydney): Abbott unveils company tax
rate cut
Tony Abbott has promised a 1.5% cut to company
tax if it wins government, taking the rate to 28.5%.

The announcement, which was made in Sydney, would
cost $2.1 billion a year and would be funded out of
Coalition savings already identified.

According to Abbott, the Coalition company tax rate
would be 0.5% lower than what the Government has
promised.

MANLY (Warringah): Abbott takes a ride on a
Manly ferry
Abbott also made a short visit to his electorate of
Warringah yesterday morning, where he attempted
to speak to some of his constituents.

Unfortunately, the locals didn’t seem too talkative,
which is unsurprising considering the press pack
that follows Abbott around.

SYDNEY (Sydney): Tony addresses Sydney Institute
Abbott flew to Sydney last night, where he flagged an
extension of the welfare quratnine system that operates
in the Northern Territory.

Under the scheme, half of dole payments must be used
on essentials.

"If it's right and just in the Territory ... why not elsewhere?"
he said in a speech to the Sydney Institute.

MACKAY (Dawson): Tony Abbott promises
freeze on gazetting of new marine parks
Tony Abbott has announced that there will be
a freeze on all marine parks under a Coalition
government.

In making the announcement from a fish market
in Mackay in Queensland, Abbott said that his
party would immediately put on hold the Marine
Bioregional Planning process.

"Many communities will face enormous losses
unless there is proper and effective consultation
on future Marine Protected Areas," he said.

ULTIMO (Sydney): Abbott appears on 7.30 Report

Tony Abbott has made the trip from Brisbane to Sydney
to appear on the 7.30 Report.
Abbott was fairly polished during the gaffe-free
performance, with Kerry pressing hard on 'ending
the waste’, WorkChoices and Tony’s political heroes.

Video:
Tony Abbott appears on 7.30 Report

KIPPA-RING (Petrie): Abbott kicks in $89m for
childcare rebate
Tony Abbott has offered families $300 a year per
child under his plan to reintroduce indexation to the
childcare rebate.

Abbott was flanked by wife Margie at the presser,
which was held at a day care centre in Brisbane's
north.

“This is an area that I feel very passionate about.
An opportunity like this, to herald early learning and
quality care, is an opportunity I couldn't let slip,"
said Mrs Abbott.

BARTON (Canberra): Gillard and Abbott duke it
out at leaders’ debate
Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have fought out a polite
debate at the Press Club this evening with neither
leader landing a decisive blow.

Abbott and Gillard were on message throughout the
performance, repeating many of the key themes
of the campaign.

Nine Network’s Worm delivered victory to Gillard by a
margin of 63 per cent to 37 per cent, while Seven’s
Polliegraph said Labor won the debate 53 per cent to
47 per cent.

CANBERRA (Canberra): Abbott pledges cut in migrant
level to 170,000
Tony Abbott has pledged that a Coalition government
would cut immigration levels to 170,000 a year by the
end of its first term.

The numbers of foreign students and family reunions could
be cut under the policy. “We need an immigration program
which can be supported for the long-term by the Australian
people,” said Abbott.

KALGOORLIE (O’Connor): Abbott pledges support
to mining industry
Tony Abbott has pledged to look after the interests of
the resources industry during a visit to the mining town
of Kalgoorlie.

Abbott vowed that the Coalition would not introduce the
mining resources rent tax should it win the election.

“There’s got to be something good about democracy if
it means that I can get behind the wheel of a really big
truck from time to time,” he said from the steps of a
mining truck.

FREMANTLE (Fremantle): Tony Abbott
commits $93m to boder security
Tony Abbott made the trip west today,
where he pledged a $93m boost to the
security services of ports and airports.

He made the announcement from the
Labor-held seat of Fremantle.

MURWILLUMBAH (Richmond): Gillard and
Abbott attend funeral of fallen digger
Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have taken a break
from the campaign to attend the funeral of soldier
Nathan Bewes, who died in Afghanistan
earlier this month.

The pair will resume their campaigning tomorrow,
when Gillard will head to Brisbane while Abbott
will fly west to campaign in Perth.

RICHMOND (Melbourne): Tony Abbott appears
as a judge on Hey Hey


Tony Abbott received a hostile reception on the
set of Hey Hey It’s Saturday tonight, as he joined
the show to judge the Red Faces segment.

The segment was mostly forgettable except for
one joke the Mad Monk made about a contestant’s
song about incest:

“I quite like the Julia Gillard accent,” he quipped.

VICTORIA POINT (Bowman): Abbott promises
increase in education rebate
Tony Abbott has pledged to increase the education tax
rebate, with the spending limit being lifted to $1000 for
primary schools students and $2000 for high school
students.

Said Abbott: “We’ll pay more, it will cover more, and it
will start sooner than is the case with the government’s
rebate.” 2UE journalist Latika Bourke has tweeted that
the increase will cost $760m.

The announcement comes a day after the Coalition
pledged $1.2bn in spending cuts.

MELBOURNE (Melbourne): Abbott announces
$1.2bn in spending cuts
Tony Abbott has announced $1.2 billion in spending
cuts today. Australia’s bid for a seat on the UN
Security Council and community cabinet meetings
would be a victim of the proposed cuts.

Tony Abbott was joined by Andrew Robb and Joe
Hockey at the press conference, with Big Joe
commenting that “the last time Labor had a surplus,
was in 1989 when The Bangles were on top of the
charts” (with the classic ‘Eternal Flame’ and that
“surplus is to Labor what celibacy is to Paris Hilton.”

Video:
Tony Abbott calls in the razor gang

Crikey coverage:
Bernard Keane: Coalition announces new round of
savings

MELBOURNE (Melbourne): Abbott addresses
Australian-Israel Chamber of Commerce

Got a caption for this photo? Email us. Source: ABC
(No prizes or fart jokes, sorry)

Tony Abbott has pledged his “unshakeable” support to
Israel during a wide-ranging economic speech given to
the Australian-Israel Chamber of Commerce today.

Peter Costello was on hand to warm up the crowd, who
ate up the former treasurer’s gags about insulation batts,
‘moving forward’ and Bob Hawke’s sex life.

PENRITH (Lindsay): Abbott goes West in search
of Howard’s battlers
Tony Abbott spent his first day campaigning in the
suburbia of Western Sydney, where he shared a
cup of tea with some of Howard’s battlers.

Abbott didn’t announce any new policy at the meet
and greet, however he did discuss some of the
issues affecting the people of Lindsay, including
asylum seekers, interest rates and spending cuts.
One policy Abbott did confirm was that there would
be no carbon price under a Coalition government.

Crikey coverage:
Bernard Keane: Both sides hit the ground running –
away from former policies

BRISBANE (Brisbane): Abbott kicks off
Coalition campaign
At the Queensland Liberal Nationals Party
state conference at Hilton Hotel in Brisbane
Tony Abbott began the Coalition campaign
in attack dog mode. “The people of
Queensland know all about dud Labor
governments,” he said to rapturous
applause.

Video:
Tony Abbott kicks off his 2010 campaign

Crikey coverage:
Bernard Keane: And we’re off