Taxing times: Tony Abbott and Bruce Billson slam the federal government's carbon tax. Picture: Daryl Gordon
FEDERAL Opposition Leader Tony Abbott made a flying visit to Mornington last Wednesday in a stop on the apparent pre-election campaign trail.
It was a short-lived trip, just long enough for Mr Abbott to tour boat building business Hart Marine and field a handful of questions from an expectant media throng.
The main aim behind his visit was to reiterate that the carbon and mining taxes would be abolished under a coalition government.
"The carbon tax and the mining tax will act like a wrecking balls through the Australian economy," he said.
The "bad taxes" would hurt Australians' cost of living and job security and Treasurer Wayne Swan's policies attacked middle Australian families, Mr Abbott said.
Malcolm Hart of Hart Marine said the pleasure boat market had all but diminished and he had very little scope to export overseas due to the strength of the Australian dollar and increased pressures of the carbon tax.
"I am worried about the manufacturing industry full stop," he said.
"We need fairer taxes across the board, not where just one industry is being slugged with the tax."
Dunkley federal MP and opposition spokesman for small business Bruce Billson said the damaging effects of the carbon tax would continue to escalate - "every day after the tax was introduced it will get worse".