Truckies seek end to Gillard govt

Canberra is set to be brought to its knees on Monday when 11 separate truck and van convoys from every mainland state and territory protest the legitimacy of the Gillard government.
The Convoy of No Confidence comes as parliament sits for four days and Prime Minister Julia Gillard, whose stocks are sagging in opinion polls, faces community anger over her broken promise on the carbon tax and changes to the diesel fuel rebate.
One of the convoy organisers, truck driver and former Queensland Liberal National Party state candidate Mick Pattel, said the convoy was a wake-up call for the government.
"Every decision that they make seems to be an absolute blunder," Mr Pattel told ABC radio.
"I think the government has been compromised by the fact that it's not governing in its own right," he added, referring to the Greens and independents who helped deliver minority government 12 months ago.
A petition will be presented calling for a double-dissolution election.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who is expected to join the protest which will get to Canberra around 6am (AEST) on Monday, said the Gillard government had the "Midas touch in reverse".
"What we are seeing is a government that is deeply out of touch and a public that is feeling increasingly ripped off and let down by a government that just seems to be guilty of ineptitude after ineptitude," Mr Abbott said.
An alternative protest will also be held, involving environmental campaigners on bicycles.
Organiser of the Don't Be Taken For A Ride rally, Geoff Lazarus, said the truck protest was a continuation of "Tony Abbott's campaign of confusion and scaremongering".
"The Convoy of No Confidence is a classic US style Tea Party attempt by powerful economic interests to ultimately get ordinary Australians to vote in the next federal election for a political agenda not in their interests," Mr Lazarus said.
Nationals senate leader Barnaby Joyce said the convoy participants were "regular truck drivers making a political point".
"It is like when a relationship breaks down - Australians are saying they want out, or more to the point they want the government out," Senator Joyce said.
Treasurer Wayne Swan said he did not know whether the convoy would be meeting Ms Gillard.
"It's a free country. They're free to express their opinions in any way they like as long as they do it lawfully and that's one of the great things about Australia," Mr Swan told reporters in Brisbane on Sunday.
Mr Swan said he did not accept the proposition that the trucking industry, which is largely unionised, had lost confidence in the Labor government.
The National Road Freighters Association has organised the rally.
However, the major body representing truckies - the Australian Trucking Association - has distanced itself from the protest.
ATA spokesman Bill McKinley said the protesters' calls for a fresh election were unrealistic.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, whose party and key independents delivered Labor government 12 months ago, said governing in minority was working.
She played down claims the Greens' push for a carbon price had contributed to the Gillard government's ailing popularity and the party's disproportionate influence over policy direction.
"We're interested in keeping the government of the day in because we want progressive reforms," she said.
"It's not about pushing ahead like a bulldozer, it's about talking and being realistic about the things you can achieve now and things you have to work for in the medium and long term."