Former prime minister John Howard says Julia Gillard has no right to hide the details surrounding her ascension to the top office.

The second longest serving prime minister also criticised Ms Gillard's predecessor, Kevin Rudd, for dodging questions about his axing. 

Like a brat "playing" on a beach, Tony is happy kicking sand in our face... Buckets of uncosted policies, no abacus to be seen, just sand, a leaky toy boat, some cubes to be rearranged to spell "e-c-o-n-o-m-y" after having spelled "I-r-a-q" ... and a plug-the-hole board for infants under three.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott will officially launch the Coalition's election campaign in Brisbane today with a focus on tougher laws to stop people smugglers.

Mr Abbott will use his campaign launch speech to focus on the asylum seeker issue and outline plans for harsh penalties for anyone convicted of people smuggling.

Under the Coalition's proposal repeat offenders will serve at least 10 years in jail.

Yesterday Mr Abbott, his Deputy Julie Bishop and the Coalition's immigration spokesman Scott Morrison met with Nauru's president Marcus Stephen to discuss the island's asylum seeker processing centre.

By ANTHONY SHADID

Julia Gillard has renewed her debate challenge to Tony Abbott, saying she wants to go head-to-head with the Opposition Leader on economic issues next Monday night.

Both leaders were on the hustings in the battlefield state of Queensland this morning as they touted plans to fast-track baby bonus payments and encourage firms to take on older workers.

Mr Abbott has already knocked back the challenge to hold a second debate with Ms Gillard, but today the Prime Minister, on day three of her 'Real Julia' strategy, threw the gauntlet down again.

"Mr Abbott should step up to a debate on the economy," she said as the election campaign reached the half-way mark.

THE Coalition will today promise employers cash payments of more than $3000 for giving jobs to people aged 50 and over.

The Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, will unveil the policy as the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, continues to press home what she said yesterday was her opponent's fundamental weakness - the economy and employment - and demand a second debate.

The big tobacco companies are fighting back against the Government's plans to introduce plain cigarette packaging by funding small retailers in a massive advertising campaign timed to coincide with the final weeks of the election campaign.

The Alliance of Australian Retailers (AAR) has taken out full page advertisements in tomorrow's papers criticising the plan, which they argue will hurt small business and lead to job losses.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the $5 million campaign has been devised by former Liberal Party strategists and Howard government advisers.

The newly-formed AAR has 19,000 members representing corner stores, petrol stations, and newsagents.

By MICHAEL BARBARO

An influential Jewish organization on Friday announced its opposition to a proposed Islamic center and mosque two blocks north of ground zero in Lower Manhattan, intensifying a fierce national debate about the limits of religious freedom and the meaning of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.