'I haven't broken promises'

Tony Abbott says his Government has not broken any promises, asserting that anyone who claims he had told "lies" is part of a hysterical campaign.

In an interview with _The Weekend West _ahead of tomorrow's first anniversary of his election, the Prime Minister said his Government had "got the big economic calls right".

Mr Abbott defended the need for tough measures in the Budget and denied they constituted broken election pledges.

"There've been many political critiques of the Budget but there's been virtually no credible economic critique of the Budget," he said.

"All of the substantial economic commentators say that this is a Government that has got all the economic calls fundamentally right, whether it be the free trade agreements, the environmental approvals, the refusal to offer handouts to businesses that came knocking on the door wanting an open cheque, the Budget itself.

"I think there's been a hysterical campaign by people claiming that lies have been told. But I don't believe that campaign stands up to serious scrutiny."

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Abbott revealed he:

·Kept his fitness by "rigorously refusing to accept any engagements before 6.15am".

·Believed the Rudd-Gillard government was the "worst in our history".

·Regularly spoke to former prime minister John Howard and taken his counsel, except on "one or two occasions".

"John has been a friend, a very good friend, for a very long time," the PM said. "He was obviously a great mentor to me and of course I take his counsel seriously, but in the end this is a different era and this is a different Government, even if the values and the broader directions are the same."

Of Mr Abbott's priorities, his Government has scrapped the carbon and mining taxes and largely stopped the asylum-seeker boats but his plan for restoring the nation's finances has been stymied by the Senate.

He has been criticised for funding cuts to health, education and the ABC, increasing taxes through a "budget repair levy" and making changes to superannuation - all in breach of election promises.

The PM insisted his Government had kept faith with its pre-election commitments.

"Education and health funding goes up every year. Even ABC funding goes up every year," he said. "Sure, we're spending it a little differently but we are absolutely faithful to our commitments.

"All I seek is for people to judge this Government in accordance with our competence and our trustworthiness and I am confident that a fair-minded observer would say 'Yes, they've been competent and trustworthy in their first year', and our intention is to be competent and trustworthy in all the years we get."