Voters don't think it is an honest policy, don't think it is competently conceived and see it damaging the economy.
Abbott is unconventional, and has taken the Coalition closer to victory than any other Liberal in this parliament could have done, partly because of that unconventionality.
When about 70 per cent of the population favoured action on climate change, he won the Liberal leadership opposing it, then used that position to fatally wound Kevin Rudd. The experts didn't see it coming.
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The parental leave policy is part of that pattern of behaviour, but this time it has failed to deliver political benefits.
It's a bad mistake, because the marginal seats in Queensland and NSW, where the swings are to be had, are full of younger families who will be more aware of this policy than most other Australians, because it is aimed at them.
It could be the difference between winning or losing, but without taking risks he wouldn't have been so close in the first place.
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