Julia improves but Tony's a natural

TONY Abbott engaged better with the audience last night but Julia Gillard came with the stronger policy message.

In a sharp and aggressive effort, Gillard drove her central campaign theme -- that she has the better economic plan and Abbott is too great a risk.

"I am standing here with the better plan," Gillard said in a mix of assertion and defiance on hostile Brisbane terrain.

This followed Abbott's final message, almost his plea, to the audience that "I am ready to govern". This "town hall" meeting stripped bare the pivotal issue: whether Abbott is ready and can be trusted with the nation.

This was the unifying purpose of Abbott's conversation. He offered prudence, personal conviction and the humility of the common man. But is it enough against Labor's ferocious negative campaign against him?

The audience was more critical towards Gillard and peppered her with questions about Kevin Rudd. Yet the Prime Minister exceeded her Rooty Hill effort in Sydney's west. "Failure is not an option," she said, invoking female resolution on the budget surplus. Gillard kept branding Abbott as a "risk" and deflected as best she could repeated questions about Rudd and her political hypocrisy.

Though tired, Abbott's natural rapport with people was manifest.

Most questioners called him "Tony". He came over as an authentic, competent, down-to-earth Aussie asking for the public's trust. Win or lose, the Abbott personality is now penetrating -- genuine, self-effacing and imbued with the sense of human imperfection.

Abbott never promises the sun, moon or stars. He is strong on the limits of government, given his drive against waste and deficits.

He keeps expectations low. Abbott says there is "no magic wand" on cost-of-living pressures, no capacity for more pension rises, cautions that high-income earners need the "least help" and preaches prudence when pressed about better deals on tax, super and veterans.

His message is economic orthodoxy -- lower taxes, tighter budgets, downplaying expectations. Yet it is a different Abbott -- he refuses to contemplate any changes to abortion law, shuns Work Choices, rejects any GST expansion.

There is no sign in this Tony Abbott of romantic schemes to change the world -- the spirit that once drove his persona. Abbott has evolved into the mature leader he always aspired to become.

Gillard projected as a leader of relentless determination. This meeting was a risk for her: a town hall-style event in Rudd's home town. The terrain was better suited to Abbott.

Yet Gillard was effective and combative. Compere David Speers put her under most pressure by asking how much householders would pay for their "super" broadband from Labor's NBN.

These events in Brisbane and Rooty Hill should establish the town hall concept as basic to future election campaigns.