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The government backbench is voicing concern about policy in the lead up to the budget. Analysis with Chris Hammer and Mark Kenny.

Senior Liberals have described plans for a possible deficit tax in the budget as "electoral suicide".Some talked of a party-room revolt and one warned the Prime Minister Tony Abbott would wear the broken promise as "a crown of thorns" if the government decided to go through with it.

The figure, part ofMr Abbott's ministerial team, spoke on condition of anonymity, arguing the suggestion of a tax was one that could come to "haunt"Mr Abbott's entire prime ministership.

Tough sell: Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaking to Neil Mitchell on Fairfax radio in Melbourne. Photo: Penny Stephens

"I worry that this is Tony's Gillard moment, when she announced the carbon tax," said the senior Liberal.

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Several other Liberals also expressed dismay at the prospect of a government, elected to restore trust to politics, overturning a "crystal-clear" policy commitment of no new taxes, in its first budget.

Incredulous Liberals contacted by Fairfax Media said they had been given nothing to tell voters who were beginning to call electorate offices to complain.

A Gillard moment: Senior Liberals are worried that Tony Abbott's deficit tax could spell disaster for the government. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Continued here:
'This is Tony's Gillard moment'

ABC Alice Springs Town Councillor and Country Liberals stalwart Eli Melky.

Clive Palmer is claiming another defection to his Palmer United Party from the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party (CLP), saying Braedon Earley has made an application to join the new NT branch of the PUP.

Mr Palmer said that Mr Earley, a former CLP president, had joined Eli Melky, the CLP deputy treasurer who resigned yesterday, in expressing his dissatisfaction with the party.

Three former Country Liberal MLAs - Alison Anderson, Larissa Lee and Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu - have already joined PUP after quitting the CLP and moving to the NT crossbench.

Mr Melky has not confirmed joining the PUP, although Mr Palmer said Mr Melky was on the PUP plane when it flew into Darwin on Sunday.

Mr Palmer today said that applications by the two ex-CLP politicians to join PUP reflected dissatisfaction with the ruling party.

"Very significant that the former president and the existing deputy treasurer of the Liberal Country leaves," he said.

"It indicates how bad the organisation is that it doesn't really care about all Territorians."

Mr Melky, an Alice Springs town councillor and CLP stalwart, said while he had always been a supporter of Ms Anderson and would continue to support her, that did not mean he was getting on board with Mr Palmer.

"To deny such a thing - the cynics would be laughing at it - and to acknowledge it would be just simply inaccurate and simply not true," he said.

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NT councillor Eli Melky denies he's the next recruit for the Palmer United Party

ABC Alice Springs Town Councillor and Country Liberals stalwart Eli Melky.

Clive Palmer is claiming another defection to his Palmer United Party from the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party (CLP), saying Braedon Earley has made an application to join the new NT branch of the PUP.

Mr Palmer said that Mr Earley, a former CLP president, had joined Eli Melky, the CLP deputy treasurer who resigned yesterday, in expressing his dissatisfaction with the party.

Three former Country Liberal MLAs - Alison Anderson, Larissa Lee and Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu - have already joined PUP after quitting the CLP and moving to the NT crossbench.

Mr Melky has not confirmed joining the PUP, although Mr Palmer said Mr Melky was on the PUP plane when it flew into Darwin on Sunday.

Mr Palmer today said that applications by the two ex-CLP politicians to join PUP reflected dissatisfaction with the ruling party.

"Very significant that the former president and the existing deputy treasurer of the Liberal Country leaves," he said.

"It indicates how bad the organisation is that it doesn't really care about all Territorians."

Mr Melky, an Alice Springs town councillor and CLP stalwart, said while he had always been a supporter of Ms Anderson and would continue to support her, that did not mean he was getting on board with Mr Palmer.

"To deny such a thing - the cynics would be laughing at it - and to acknowledge it would be just simply inaccurate and simply not true," he said.

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NT Country Liberal councillor Eli Melky denies he's Palmer United Party's next recruit

Video will begin in 5 seconds.

The government backbench is voicing concern about policy in the lead up to the budget. Analysis with Chris Hammer and Mark Kenny.

Senior Liberals have described plans for a possible deficit tax in the budget as "electoral suicide".Some talked of a party-room revolt and one warned the Prime Minister Tony Abbott would wear the broken promise as "a crown of thorns" if the government decided to go through with it.

The figure, part ofMr Abbott's ministerial team, spoke on condition of anonymity, arguing the suggestion of a tax was one that could come to "haunt"Mr Abbott's entire prime ministership.

Tough sell: Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaking to Neil Mitchell on Fairfax radio in Melbourne. Photo: Penny Stephens

"I worry that this is Tony's Gillard moment, when she announced the carbon tax," said the senior Liberal.

Advertisement

Several other Liberals also expressed dismay at the prospect of a government, elected to restore trust to politics, overturning a "crystal-clear" policy commitment of no new taxes, in its first budget.

Incredulous Liberals contacted by Fairfax Media said they had been given nothing to tell voters who were beginning to call electorate offices to complain.

A Gillard moment: Senior Liberals are worried that Tony Abbott's deficit tax could spell disaster for the government. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

See the original post here:
New tax is 'electoral suicide': Libs

Video will begin in 5 seconds.

The government backbench is voicing concern about policy in the lead up to the budget. Analysis with Chris Hammer and Mark Kenny.

Senior Liberals have described plans for a possible deficit tax in the budget as "electoral suicide".Some talked of a party-room revolt and one warned the Prime Minister Tony Abbott would wear the broken promise as "a crown of thorns" if the government decided to go through with it.

The figure, part ofMr Abbott's ministerial team, spoke on condition of anonymity, arguing the suggestion of a tax was one that could come to "haunt"Mr Abbott's entire prime ministership.

Tough sell: Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaking to Neil Mitchell on Fairfax radio in Melbourne. Photo: Penny Stephens

"I worry that this is Tony's Gillard moment, when she announced the carbon tax," said the senior Liberal.

Advertisement

Several other Liberals also expressed dismay at the prospect of a government, elected to restore trust to politics, overturning a "crystal-clear" policy commitment of no new taxes, in its first budget.

Incredulous Liberals contacted by Fairfax Media said they had been given nothing to tell voters who were beginning to call electorate offices to complain.

A Gillard moment: Senior Liberals are worried that Tony Abbott's deficit tax could spell disaster for the government. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

Read the original post:
Deficit tax 'electoral suicide'