TONY Abbott doesn't want to jinx himself by admitting that he is more than likely to be Australia's next prime minister.

The opposition leader, whose coalition party is well ahead in the polls for this year's election, told the Nine Networks's 60 Minutes that he is about to face the "supreme challenge of his life'' as he bids to win government from Labor.

"I don't want to jinx myself by getting too cocky too soon,'' Mr Abbott said.

"This is the supreme challenge of my life, and I am so conscious of the responsibility that I carry and so determined not to let down the millions of Australians who would like to see a change of government.''

Mr Abbott, who once trained for the priesthood, said religion would not play a part in how he would govern if he won office.

He said faith was important and had helped shape him as a person.

"But it must never, never dictate my politics,'' he said.

He said he had said things in the past which he wouldn't say today, and believed in things that he did not believe now.

"I have changed and I like to think I have grown,'' he said.

His views on homosexuality have also changed and he now warmly accepts his sister Christine Forster as a lesbian, after she left her marriage of 19 years to be with her new partner Virginia.

"It came as a bit of a shock when someone who is close to you, who you've always thought of in a particular light, tells you that they're now to be seen in a different light,'' Mr Abbott said.

"Nevertheless, I think I was probably reasonably unfazed by it.''

Ms Forster said that when she told her brother about her new relationship he said that life threw up some difficult and sometimes terrible situations for people "but I know that you're just going to be doing the best you can to deal with that''.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national-news/tony-abbott-opens-up-on-politics-faith-and-homosexuality-in-60-minutes-interview/story-fncynjr2-1226594397031#ixzz2NAuf2yyP

If you believe any of what Tonicchio says, you're thicker than I thought...

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he can guarantee that his religious views will not impact on policies about women.

The Liberal leader has also backtracked from his previous views on homosexuals and saying the numbers of abortions each year is a "legacy of unutterable shame".

He has told Nine Network's 60 minutes program that he did not say what he meant to and distanced himself from controversial comments he had previously made.

"I didn't express it as well as I could have or should have," Mr Abbott said.

"And I absolutely accept that for any woman facing an unexpected pregnancy, the choices are tough."

"I've certainly said some things which I wouldn't say now. I said some things which I believed then which I don't believe now. Because like everyone who's had a long time in public life - in particular - I've changed and I'd like to think that I've grown."

The devout Catholic says his faith does not dictate his political positions or policies.

"Faith is important to me. It's important to millions of Australians. It helps to shape who I am. It helps to shape my values," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-10/abbott-denies-faith-will-dictate-politics/4564188

Can you trust Abbott? Sure can't!...

His faith has been pretty useless in shaping his understanding of reality... Someone who believes the bible, or any religious shit, should be banned from holding any leading role on the future of the planet... Especially at one of the most critical time of history : climate change due to human activities.

Ah I see... Tony's vision of the future is the year 1956... when people were still driving FJ Holdens to go to church... There was a major revolution soon after Tony was born (1957): People drove to church in the new FC Holdens by 1558... 

Yes, we all should go back to 1956, when there was no Tony Abbott who has made himself known for making a misery of misunderstandings religion and politics. Tony is all lies and fists. Faith does not teach that... 

The moralisationing rectitude that people think comes from "faith" actually comes from a hierarchy of old men in robes and funny hats who actually misunderstood their own purpose, pope included...

But Mr Murdoch loves Tony because Tony will destroy the NBN and the science of global warming... Please Uncle Rupe, say it like it is... Tony is an iddiott...

Throw Tony Abbott out of politics... He is a danger to this planet and he never says what he means... He lies.

A shock addition of 71,500 jobs in February has confounded economists and left unemployment steady at 5.4 per cent.

According to the Bureau of Statistics labour force survey, most of the jobs were part-time (53,700), but 17,800 full-time jobs were added as well.

Economists surveyed by Reuters had on average expected only 9,000 jobs to be added in total and unemployment to tick up to 5.5 per cent.

The positive results were reinforced by a rise in the proportion of the population in work or looking for it to 65.3 per cent, up from 65 per cent, in a sign that some discouraged job seekers are again looking for jobs.

The rise in participation was the reason why the unemployment rate held steady despite the surge in employment.

Aggregate hours worked last month also rose by 11.3 million to 1,633 million, in another sign that labour is increasing in demand and the economy is warming up.

Macquarie senior economist Brian Redican says the strong numbers were a huge surprise, and take further official interest rate cuts off the agenda in the short term.

"It's spectacular employment growth that was reported for February," he told Reuters.

"With that kind of employment growth, obviously policy makers would be feeling pretty comfortable with the current policy settings."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-14/unemployment-figures-february/4572676

A "shock" addition?... Who writes this crap? economist? Juniors at the ABC?... The Janitor on Red Dwarf?...

Meanwhile:

ACTU right, but protect workers from Abbott before election: Bandt06 Feb 2013 | Adam Bandt
Employment & Workplace Relations

Greens Deputy Leader and employment spokesperson, Adam Bandt, has offered his party's support to protect people's rights at work and insulate Australians from an extreme Abbott government by legislating before the Federal election including on leave portability and penalty rates.

Responding to a National Press Club speech from ACTU Secretary, Dave Oliver, Mr Bandt welcomed calls for Parliament to pass laws for greater job security, better work/life balance and protection of people's rights at work.

"The Greens want a strong, clean economy that gives people job security and better work/life balance," said Mr Bandt.

"The Greens offer to work with the government over the remaining few sitting weeks, legislate to protect peoples' rights and work and insulate Australians from a brutal Abbott-led attack."

http://adam-bandt.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/actu-right

Which of course comes as:

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has promised changes to the Fair Work Act to improve the working conditions of people in insecure and casual jobs.

Ms Gillard says the changes will improve the living standards of millions of Australians, but Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says they are a smokescreen.

The union movement had been pushing for Government action on insecure work and this morning at an Australian Council of Trade Unions job summit, Ms Gillard responded.

She said the Government will insert a new modern awards objective into the act to ensure penalty rates, shift loading and public holiday pay are considered by the Fair Work Commission when it sets award rates and conditions.

"We will make it clear in law that there needs to be additional remuneration for employees who work shift work, unsociable, irregular, unpredictable hours or on weekends and public holidays," she said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-14/gillard-vows-to-protect-penalty-rates-holiday-pay/4572400

Meanwhile Abbott bites his acerbic nasty negative tongue and duck like a dummy on springs at a police shooting range... Abbott does not support Joe Hockey who wants to eliminate the Baby Bonus... yes, this bonus pride and joy of the Howard years for people to go under the doonas, to which the Nanny Bonus would be added, while anything else like education would be shot on sight...

“I will be filing a claim against Tony Abbott in the Brisbane Supreme Court seeking damages in excess of $1.5 million,” said Mr Ettridge.

“I will also be asking the court to compel Mr Abbott to release the names of the people who contributed to Mr Abbott’s ‘Australians for Honest Politics Trust’, so the trust can be fully examined for whatever contribution it made to any unlawful activity at that time,” he said.

“I will be alleging that those donors became co-conspirators in Mr Abbott’s unlawful actions and must also be held accountable.

“Mr Abbott has closely guarded and never released details of this slush fund and was treated very lightly at the time by the Australian Electoral Commission who never pursued him to reveal such information.

http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/one-nation-co-founder-to-launch-criminal-action-against-abbott/

JULIA Gillard has accused Tony Abbott of having ''no understanding'' of the global economy as a fiery Question Time kicked off today.

Ms Gillard said if Prime Minister, Mr Abbott would be unable to answer the ''big questions'' at forums like the G20 after he pressed her on government debt.

Mr Abbott asked the Prime Minister when the budget would be returned to surplus given the global financial crisis ended four years ago.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national-news/prime-minister-slams-tony-abbott

Tony Abbott is definitely a complete iddiott...