Abbott allows time to axe taxes
Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott says he will not recall Federal Parliament for at least another seven weeks so as to allow legislation to be drafted for the axing of the carbon tax and the mining tax.
Labor has cried foul, asserting that a long delay in the resumption of Parliament defied the Liberal leader's pre-election rhetoric about a Budget "emergency" and a "crisis" on the borders.
During a round of radio interviews yesterday, the first since his decisive election win, Mr Abbott made it clear he was in no rush to return to Parliament.
"It will be back towards the end of October, early November," he said.
"It's important that the various pieces of legislation are ready to go before we get the Parliament back.
"My emphasis will be on being purposeful, methodical, calm and conscientious and the last thing I want to do is to rush the Parliament back for a photo opportunity before the substance of the work is there for it to do.
"As soon as the substance of the work is there for it to do, it will come back and with calm expedition, we will get through the work, but I'm not going to rush the Parliament back until the legislation is absolutely ready."
A Liberal insider said Mr Abbott was adopting the political strategy of former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser after the 1975 election which followed a period of great division.
"Like Fraser did in 1975, Abbott wants to put cricket back on the front page," the insider said.
Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen said the coalition's suddenly unhurried approach contrasted with its pre-election messaging.
"I thought we had an emer- gency on our borders and a crisis in our Budget and I thought there was going to be emergency legislation brought in within days and there was going to be trips to Indonesia," Mr Bowen said.
"Apparently everything is not all that urgent now. That's interesting, isn't it?"
Mr Abbott will summon Liberal MPs and senators to Canberra on Thursday for a formal vote on party leadership.
His ministry is not expected to be sworn in until next week to allow results in some seats to be known.
Sophie Mirabella, his anointed minister-in-waiting for the industry portfolio, is in a tight contest with independent Cathy McGowan.
As of last night, Ms Mirabella was 1700 votes behind, with just over half the votes counted.
However, analysts still believe Ms Mirabella will win based on pre-polls and postal votes. Labor is clinging to McEwen (Victoria), Barton (NSW) and Capricornia (Queensland) but has fallen behind in Eden-Monaro.
