In Abbott’s victory speech he said “In three years’ time, the carbon tax will be gone…”.

Three years?

So much for it being the source of an economic budgetary crisis. If he was truly honest about it as a significant economic issue, he would also take back the compensation – otherwise it’s a source of wasted revenue.

As for having a “mandate” this is another Abbott quote from 2007– “The elected Opposition is no less entitled than the elected Government to exercise judgement and to try to keep its election commitments” - http://tonyabbott.com.au/LatestNews/ArticleswrittenbyTony/tabid/87/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6890/OPPOSITION-TOO-HAS-PROMISES-TO-KEEP.aspx

Abbott has a mandate only to govern, and therefore to introduce proposed legislation to Parliament.

The 46.5% who wanted someone else elected their people to oppose it. The idea that a mandate abolishes opposition is totalitarian by definition.

The election result was not a “landslide” - 53.5% to 46.5%, and that's the 2 Party preferred. The swing to the Liberals alone was around 1.8% nationally. The result showed a movement away from both parties, with Palmer bleeding off much of the coalition vote in particular.

Remember that in 2012, the Queensland LNP won 49.65% of the votes but got 80% of the seats.

Sonofgloin, if AGW is some sort of elaborate global financial hoax, why is Abbott prepared to hand out your money to polluters to reduce their emissions? Is he part of the scam too?

I would be interested to see what you think about the hole in the ozone layer, industrial pollution causing acid rain and the harmlessness of DDT – all of which were denied by the same people in the same way at the time.

I forgot to mention that Abbott promised that our power bills would immediately fall by 10% as soon as the carbon tax is removed.

If that doesn't happen I will be obliged to constantly refer to him as a liar for the remainder of the parliamentary term.

It's only fair.

You want me to "find" something that's not there, i.e. a Newscorp media-person making Tony Abbott accountable for a porky? You can't be serious.

I'd listen to Vote Compass before you any day, Shallow, on why the election was won or lost.

Back on topic, you and your coterie here can bleat about a policy mandate to your hearts' content but Abbott hasn't got one, whatever confection he tried to put on the election outcome beforehand.

Whether Labor votes for or against repeal is completely its own moral decision. Laborites like Champion may cross the floor. After trying to to persuade with unassailable logic (not his strong point) Abbott can call a double dissolution. Gillard got a lot done with fewer options.

Dorothy,

Here is the proof you were lying. 2 links that took me 30 seconds to find.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/carbon-tax-adds-fuel-to-the-ire/story-e6frgd0x-1226314891042
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/carbon-tax/julia-gillard-to-hand-out-15bn-in-cash-to-sweeten-carbon-tax-impact/story-fn99tjf2-1226091815863

You claimed that the Australian was DIRECTLY and indirectly supporting the claim that the carbon tax was responsible for the full 70% electricity price rise. I have shown that it was neither. Either you can show that it was directly supporting this or you are lying.

TA has a clear mandate to remove the carbon tax. If Labor keeps blocking it and prices go up, TA will get more in tax, and can hang it on labor. Guess how the public will react in 2016.

Luciferase, I dont think Abbott has a mandate, but I do think he will call a DD election if labor, or the senate blocks his bill.

I say he doesn't have a mandate simply because this was not his only policy.

If it was, he would also have a mandate on his PP scheme, something that I as a supporter hope gets blocked as I think it's a stupid policy.

Thanks Shall, but where is Abbott taken to task for his porkie pies to the Murdoch media? Labor conceding the power of Tony Abbott's cost of living campaign does not mean it was honest, it was a dishonest scare campaign that was ultimately borne out to be so by the fact that the CPI rose 0.7% only due to carbon price.

Too right, rehctub.