FED:Abbott says Labor-Greens fight 'fake'

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2011
FED:Abbott says Labor-Greens fight 'fake'

CANBERRA, April 1 AAP - Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the prime minister is "faking"

a fight with the Greens.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday night said the Greens - with whom she has
an agreement to form minority government - were a "party of protest" and did not share
the values of everyday Australians.

It is the second time in two weeks the Labor leader has taken a shot at the Greens
in a bid to differentiate her party from that of veteran environmentalist Senator Bob
Brown.

Mr Abbott told reporters in Brisbane Ms Gillard was merely putting on a show.

"If they are so extreme why did she form a government with them?" Mr Abbott said.

"What we are really seeing is just a fake fight, a phony lovers' tiff.

"The fact is Labor is in office but the Greens are in power."

With the federal budget due to be delivered in five weeks, Mr Abbott said he expected
the government to "wimp out" on hard decisions.

Ms Gillard has described the coming budget as "tough".

"We do need some tough decisions and the toughest decision this government should make
is to dump the national broadband network ... it's going to be an expensive white elephant,"

Mr Abbott said.

AAP pjo/sb/nb

KEYWORD: LABOR ABBOTT

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