Tony Abbott’s election message
I WELCOME this opportunity to engage directly with readers of The Australian Jewish News. Australia’s relationship with Israel is important.
I WELCOME this opportunity to engage directly with readers of the Australian Jewish News. Australia’s relationship with Israel is important.
The Coalition’s traditionally strong support for Australia’s Jewish community has been matched by a firm commitment to Israel’s security. This reflects our two countries’ shared democratic values and the Coalition’s strong recognition that Israel is under existential threat in a way that almost no other country in the world is.
I acknowledge the extraordinary contribution to Australia that Jewish people have made.
Australia is the only country in the world, outside of Israel, where Jewish people have been chief justice, commander in chief of the army, and head of state.
Jewish people have succeeded in Australia because they’ve never taken anything for granted. Better products, new services, more effective salesmanship, and above everything, relentless curiosity have been the hallmarks of Jewish people in Australia, especially businesspeople, and we have not held their success against them, but honoured them for it.
The Coalition believes there is scope for closer trade and investment ties with Israel, and I would be keen to even further strengthen our relationship, should I become prime minister.
We are firmly committed to restoring the Australia-Israel friendship to the strength it enjoyed under the Howard government.
This Saturday, the community faces the most important choice in a generation.
You have a clear choice: Support the Liberal team who have put forward a positive plan for the future and stand ready to deliver on it, or risk another three more years of a chaotic, dishonest and divided Labor Party.
We are a great country and a great people, but we can’t afford another three years like the last six – with more waste, more debt, more boats and more division. We need a stronger government, not another divided minority Labor government.
The Liberals stand ready to deliver more jobs, higher wages and better services for all Australians. We will do that by building a stronger, more productive, diverse economy, through lower taxes, more efficient government and more productive businesses.
The Liberal Party will continue to be pro-immigration and pro-immigrant. We support skilled migration because it’s good for Australia, which is why I oppose Mr Rudd’s fear campaign and attacks on skilled migrant visas.
As a husband and a father, I know that job security and keeping the cost of living down helps every family to plan their future with confidence. That’s why our Real Solutions Plan will scrap the carbon tax, not penalise super and help generate two million new jobs within 10 years.
If you choose the Liberal Party, you’ll get a new government – and a government that will:
Scrap the carbon tax to reduce electricity and gas prices, and everyday costs, saving the average family $550 next year and $3000 over six years;
Retain the recent tax cuts and fortnightly pensions and benefit increases without the carbon tax;
Provide $20,000 interest free Trade Support Loans to apprentices to help them finish their training;
Give new mothers six months paid parental leave based on their real wage, to help young families get ahead and boost workforce participation;
Restore the private health insurance rebate as soon as we possibly can; and
Give certainty to self-funded retirees. We won’t penalise superannuation. And we’ll index the income threshold for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card by the consumer price index.
At this election, only the Liberal Party has put forward the positive plans to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe and secure Australia.
With your vote we will restore confidence in our country and in our future – meaning more jobs and a stronger economy.
We’ll also deliver a competent, trustworthy government. That’s what my strong, united team want to deliver to the Australian people in the future.
The choice at this election is between the Liberals and our Real Solutions Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy, or another three years of Labor.
I respectfully ask you to join us and help build a stronger Australia and a better future for all Australians.
I am confident that Australia’s best days are ahead of us. Our people, our institutions and our readiness to have a go, at least as much as our geography, make us uniquely placed to take advantage of the opportunities of Asia but we won’t succeed by resting on our laurels.
The last Coalition government in Canberra delivered more jobs, higher pay and greater prosperity. What we have done before we will do again.
The choice at this election couldn’t be clearer and I ask for your support at this election.
By OPPOSITION LEADER TONY ABBOTT
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