Abbott rolls out carbon copy poll tactic as he fends off challengers

Tony Abbott will stoke fears of another carbon tax when he writes to voters and asks them to back him this week.

Tony Abbott, the member for Warringah, emerges from his Forestville home yesterday, the day former Olympic skier and barrister Zali Steggall announced she would contest his seat as an independent in the next federal election. Picture: ABC

Tony Abbott will use his “megaphone” as a former prime minister and stoke fears of another carbon tax when he writes to voters and asks them to back him in what is shaping as the toughest challenge to his seat in the 25 years he has held it.

Former Olympic skier and barrister Zali Steggall yesterday ­announced she would challenge Mr Abbott in the seat of Warringah in the upcoming federal election, launching her campaign with a team of co-ordinated volunteers in aqua shirts and putting climate change squarely at the centre of her pitch.

Election analyst Antony Green told The Australian Ms Steggall was a “formidable candidate” and “the type of independent who can win”. “She has a high profile and a substantial track record of achievements in life,” he said.

“I think of her as a Cathy McGowan type, really. Warringah never goes to preferences so whoever stands has got to eat into the Liberal Party primary vote and get Abbott below 50 per cent if they want to win.”

Former independent candidate and one-time host of Australian Idol James Mathison stood against Mr Abbott in the 2016 election and received swings to him of up to 19 per cent in addition to then Nick Xenophon Team candidate Marie Rowland, whose own vote was more than 6 per cent across the seat.

James Mathison, who stood as an independent against Tony Abbott in the 2016 election, received swings to him of up to 19 per cent. He has thrown his support behind Ms Steggall. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Public education advocate and feminist writer Jane Caro has confirmed she will not be running, but says she will support any independent who is prepared to prioritise climate change.

Mr Mathison has thrown his support behind Ms Steggall, calling her “the real deal”, and urged everyone to “corral around the best independent candidate”.

“The electorate has two very different sides and it is hard to have a foot in both camps, but she definitely does,” he said. “She is strong, female and highly educated. I am pragmatic, I think I am probably too far-left to win.”

Public education advocate and feminist writer Jane Caro has confirmed to The Australian she will not be running.

“I am not running and I am supportive of any independent who is prepared to prioritise climate change,” she said.

Ms Steggall will oppose changes to negative gearing and place emphasis on climate change in her campaign, naming environmentalist Tim Flannery as a key supporter.

Anthony Reid, who worked on Kerryn Phelps’s successful Wentworth by-election campaign, will run Ms Steggall’s campaign, and Louise Hislop — the former president of grassroots anti-Abbott group Voices for Warringah — has been installed as operations manager and co-campaign manager.

The lawyer and former slalom world champion said she would fight the hard-right incumbent Tony Abbott from the “sensible centre” of politics.

Barrister and former world champion skier Zali Steggall announces she will contest Tony Abbott’s Sydney seat of Warringah as an independent. Picture: AAP

“It’s time for real action on ­climate change,” Ms Steggall said.

“We want to make sure we lead the economic boom with new technology, renewable energy, and (that) we bring jobs to Warringah.”

She said she would release a ­climate change policy during the campaign, and was also “determined to bring down the price of power” through greater use of renewable energy and hydro storage.

“I want to beat Tony Abbott, who has been a handbrake on Australian progress on many fronts but, particularly, effective action on climate change,” Ms Steggall said. “I support sensible centre economic policies for a strong, ­stable economy and will resist proposed changes to negative gearing, franking credits and capital gains tax.

“People are also worried about the state of politics in this country, the lack of compassion on human rights, how rising congestion is disrupting our commutes, mental health and domestic violence.”

Mr Abbott will write to voters in the electorate in the coming week, telling them he is “proud of everything” achieved in the seat.

“But there’s much more to do; and no one can fight harder for you and for our area than someone with the big megaphone that only a former PM has,” he says in an electorate mailout.

He also revives the effective carbon tax campaign that swept him from opposition leader to power in 2013 as prime minister.

“My other pledge is to do everything I humanly can to protect you from Labor’s tax attack that will unfairly target people in Warringah with above-average incomes and assets,” he says.

Additional reporting: Emily Ritchie