Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rejected suggestions by Prime Minister Julia Gillard that the coalition and Labor have similar policies on dealing with asylum seekers.

The prime minister has attempted to neutralise the key election issue by saying there are ‘‘emerging points of agreement’’ between both parties in terms of asylum seeker policy.

But Mr Abbott this morning said there were significant differences, adding that Ms Gillard was ‘‘desperately trying to me too’’ the coalition on border protection.

‘‘To start with we will bring back temporary protection visas,’’ Mr Abbott told Sky News.

‘‘That is very, very important because people think that if they get here and are assessed as a refugee they’ll have a permanent residency, they’ll have a new life in Australia.