Key election issues already on table: PM

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is trying to turn the tables on the opposition as Labor
struggles to regain the upper hand in the debate over climate change action.
The government on Tuesday will make a third attempt to have parliament approve an
emissions trading scheme.
This time though it will be in the aftermath of the UN global climate summit in
Copenhagen and with voter support flagging for action back home.
The opposition under new leader Tony Abbott has labelled the scheme "a great big new
tax", claiming it will cost average households more than $1,000 a year in higher
energy and food costs.
The prime minister upped the ante on Sunday by claiming the coalition's climate
change policy - to be released before parliament sits on Tuesday - will be "one huge
mega tax".
Mr Abbott immediately rejected the claim.
"It won't increase prices to consumers and it certainly won't involve a great big
new tax," he told reporters.
Mr Rudd insists climate change will be one of three big election issues, along with
health care and workplace relations.
"You cannot take the risk with Australia's future to have a leader ... who goes out
there and says climate change is absolute crap," he said, referring to a comment Mr
Abbott made before he became opposition leader in December.
Mr Abbott sees the issue in a different light, saying his job is to save Australia
from the costs of the scheme.
Who receives and does not receive the government's 30 per cent rebate on private
health insurance premiums is also shaping up as an election issue.
Labor is keen to limit the rebate to singles earning less than $75,000 a year and to
couples who earn under $150,000.
Mr Rudd has labelled the measure "a major reform" that would save the federal health
budget $100 billion during the next several decades.
"(It) is not just a piece of loose cash, it's part and parcel of long-term health
reform," he said.
Mr Abbott said the move was an attack on private health insurance.
"This is a core principle and we will defend this," he said.
Labor also wants to target Mr Abbott's apparent support for the previous Howard
government's Work Choices regime, a key election issue in 2007.
"He (Tony Abbott) said that Work Choices may be dead in name, but not in substance,"
Mr Rudd said.
The two men who will dominate what could be an election year square off in
parliament for the first time on Tuesday.