FEDERAL Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has called on the government to scrap its multi-billion dollar National Broadband Network (NBN) to help fund the Queensland flood recovery.

With the damage bill for the recovery effort estimated to run into the billions of dollars, Mr Abbott called for government expenditure to be "reprioritised", starting with the costly NBN.



Taxpayers are investing $27.5 billion in the telecommunications project, which will deliver high speed internet services to households across Australia.



"It is time for the government to stop spending on unnecessary projects so that it can start spending on unavoidable projects such as the reconstruction that will be needed in Queensland," he told reporters in Sydney.



"It can start with the National Broadband Network.



"The National Broadband Network is a luxury that Australia cannot now afford. The one thing you don't do is redo your bathroom when your roof has just been blown off."



Mr Abbott said unspent funds under the government's stimulus package, and the money devoted to initiatives such as the "cash for clunkers" election promise, should be diverted to the flood recovery.



Queenslanders should not be taxed to fund the rebuilding effort, he said.



"There are a whole range of unnecessary spending programs that the government needs to look at," he said.



"It should not be found via a new tax.



"The people of Queensland have suffered enough, they shouldn't have to suffer higher taxes as well."



Mr Abbott welcomed Prime Minister Julia Gillard's announcement that she would set up a business task force to help the Queensland recovery.



Ms Gillard has decided to bring together 10 Australian leading business people to form a business round table to assist with corporate support as Queensland recovers and rebuilds from the floods.



"I think that there is a lot of expertise in corporate Australia that governments at all levels could all draw on," he said.

Originally published as Scrap NBN for flood recovery - Abbott