Tony Abbott seeks to explain baddies versus baddies comment on situation in Syria

Updated

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has sought to explain his use of the term "baddies" in relation to the civil war in Syria, saying he was "trying to explain to the public exactly what the situation is".

The Labor party has seized on the comments, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd slamming it as "simplistic".

Yesterday on ABC TV's Insiders program, Mr Abbott said it would be preferable for a political solution to be found to the worsening crisis in Syria, rather than a military one, but he did not think that was likely.

"We've got a civil war going on in that benighted country between two pretty unsavoury sides. It's not goodies versus baddies - it's baddies versus baddies," he said.

Mr Rudd says it shows the Opposition Leader does not have the "judgment" to lead Australia and has likened the characterisation to children's games.

"The last time I used the term goodies or baddies I think when I was playing Cowboys and Indians in the backyard," he said.

"I think I stopped doing that at about the age of 10.

"We're talking about serious questions of national security, serious questions of international relations."

Remarks likened to those of Cameron, Clinton, Obama

Mr Abbott says the criticism is just "a little more hyperventilating from a desperate and shrill government".

"Interestingly people such as David Cameron and Bill Clinton have referred to good guys and not so good guys," he added.

"I think the odd use of a colloquialism is perfectly appropriate if you are trying to explain to the public exactly what the situation is."

Other Coalition frontbenchers have also pointed to US President Barack Obama's use of the term "bad guys" as justification for Mr Abbott's language.

However, the Opposition Leader did not use the phrase again today, instead describing the civil strife as "between more or less two equally unsavoury sides".

"That's why I make the point that we should be very careful about involvement in anything that could end up making a bad situation worse," he said.

"The Assad regime is an abomination; on the other hand there are also deeply unsavoury elements associated with the opposition."

Where the Liberal Party says world leaders have mentioned 'baddies' UK PM David Cameron responding to reporter asking about 'bad guys' - "Well I think where you're right is that there are as it were ... you know you've got a lot of bad guys in Syria."

in Syria." US president Barack Obama on NSA controversy - "That's not to suggest that, you know, you just say, 'trust me, we're doing the right thing, we know who the bad guys are'."

are'." Former US president Bill Clinton speaking in US city of Waterloo on Obama election campaign - "Well, I always see it as the site of the good guys winning."

winning." PM Kevin Rudd quoted in The Gold Coast Bulletin on Aug 17, 2004 - "A first class security and intelligence relationship with our neighbours in order to be able to go after the bad guys and eliminate them." Quotes provided by the Liberal Party Quotes provided by the Liberal Party

Abbott points to Rudd language on China

And he pointed to reports three years ago that Mr Rudd, in private remarks to a group of journalists and aides, accused the Chinese delegation at the Copenhagen climate change conference in December 2009 of "trying to rat f--- us".

"One thing I would never do is to use a profanity in relation to a very important world power, as we know the Prime Minister did after Copenhagen," Mr Abbott said.

The Opposition leader has also dismissed outright the latest Newspoll results, showing the Coalition is set for a comfortable win on Saturday.

Newspoll preferred PM Kevin Rudd Tony Abbott Aug 30-Sep 1 41% 43% Aug 23-25 44% 40% Aug 16-18 43% 41% Aug 9-11 46% 37% Aug 2-4 47% 33%

"I don't believe the polls, I want to make it absolutely crystal clear, I do not believe these polls," he said.

"This election is incredibly close."

With less than a week to go in the campaign, the Coalition has retained its winning lead on a two-party preferred basis, 54 per cent to 46.

And, in a grim blow to the ALP's chances, its primary vote has fallen to a new low under Mr Rudd's leadership, slumping four points to 33.

According to the poll figures, independents and minor parties appear to have benefitted from Labor's drop in primary support.

Mr Abbott has called on voters to choose Liberal or National candidates to ensure the election does not result in another hung parliament.

"There's no way you can change the government by voting for old mate Labor member, old-mate independent member, old-mate celebrity, do that and we are almost certain to end up with another hung parliament," he warned.

Newspoll results since PM Kevin Rudd's return Date Labor primary Coalition primary

Two-party preferred

(Labor/Coalition) Aug 30-Sep 1 33 46 46/54 August 23-25 37 47 47/53 August 16-18 37 47 46/54 August 9-11 35 46 48/52 August 2-4 37 44 48/52 July 19-21 37 45 48/52 July 5-7 38 42 50/50 June 28-30 (PM Rudd) 35 43 49/51 June 21-23 (PM Gillard) 29 48 43/57 2010 Election 38 43.6 50.1/49.9

*Source: Newspoll.com.au *Source: Newspoll.com.au

Mr Rudd says it is clear that Labor is the "underdog" but insists the party could still win on Saturday.

"My advice is we got somewhere north of 15 per cent of people out there who remain undecided with about four to five days to go in this election campaign," he said.

"And this is when the Australian people start to lock on in the last week of a campaign."

The poll shows Mr Abbott has, for the first time, overtaken Mr Rudd as preferred prime minister, leading 43 points to 41.

However, dissatisfaction with both leaders remains high, with Mr Rudd's rating up six points to 58, and Mr Abbott's up two points to 51.

The polls also shows that satisfaction with Mr Abbott sits at 41; it is much lower for Mr Rudd at 32 points.

The margin of error for the poll is 3 per cent.

But Finance Minister Penny Wong is not counting Labor out just yet.

"There are always undecided voters right up until the wire, and a lot of people make their minds up in the last few days," she told ABC News 24.

"One of the really inspiring things Kevin reminded us of yesterday is not only the fighting spirit of the Labor Party, but why we have that fighting spirit, who we are fighting for, the values of fairness, of opportunity that we are fighting for.

"They're things that are worth fighting for and we're going to continue doing it."

Topics: alp, abbott-tony, liberals, federal-elections, australia

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