Tony Abbott in Auburn today.
Tony Abbott in Auburn today.
Tony Abbott in Auburn today.
Federal opposition leader Tony Abbott gazumped the Prime Minister's bid to win back votes in the west, by launching his campaign for western Sydney at 8am on Sunday morning in one of the area's most diverse communities.
Prime minister Gillard arrives in Sydney's west - where she will stay for a week - at 5pm on Sunday, when she will speak at the Parramatta campus of the University of Western Sydney.
Mr Abbott and his daughter Bridget joined the Liberal candidate for the Reid electorate Craig Lundy, and dozens of local residents, in a Clean Up Australia event on the banks of the Duck River.
The Prime Minister announced last week she will visit Sydney's west, where four of 12 electorates are marginal and therefore crucial to Labor's hold on government.
On Sunday, Mr Abbott spoke to residents and had his photo taken with many of the locals present.
He told the assembled media and residents that it was great to be in Auburn, an area that was ''fully reflective of multicultural Australia''.
''Migration to this country has been a magnificent success story...and it has given an heroic dimension to our story,'' Mr Abbott said.
He said he was in western Sydney this week not just for a visit, but to present a plan for the area - a plan which included increasing public transport and the reduction of traffic, and reducing crime by easing pressure on police.
President of the NSW Auburn Turkish Islamic Centre Dr Abdurrahman Asaroglu said it was good to meet Mr Abbott.
He said education and youth support services were the most important issues in the area.
"The second and third generation migrants are going through a transformation and we need professional help for that transformation.''
Shamsia Moosawi and Bibi Goul, both 15 and Clean Up volunteers from the Afghan Hassanain Youth Association said Mr Abbott's visit was setting a ''good example'' in showing interest in the area.