Time for Abbott to play the nuclear power card

He cannot afford, however, to be mesmerised by the public opinion polls which have continued to reflect damning criticism of the performance by the ALP and Gillard from voters.

While the leadership switch from Kevin Rudd to Gillard has failed to ignite a spark of enthusiasm for Labor in the electorate even Liberals are increasingly asking what Abbott stands for other than being opposed to the carbon tax. While such a carte blanch criticism is not altogether fair it does pinpoint an unhealthy conservative perception of Abbott and the coalition.

The next federal election is not due before 2013 and it is hard to see what rationale could tempt Gillard to go to the polls early particularly as it would almost certainly spell the defeat of the independents who are keeping her minority government in power.

So, against this background Abbott has time to strategically launch a series of keynote policy addresses along the lines of the "headland speeches" which John Howard delivered to set the coalition up for victory at the 1996 election. Gillard's hastily cobbled together carbon tax gives Abbott a perfect opportunity to lead off with his energy policy for the future of Australia.