Tony Abbott Quotes

Powerful Tony Abbott for Daily Growth

About Tony Abbott

Tony Abbott, born on November 4, 1957, in London, England, is a prominent Australian politician who served as the 28th Prime Minister of Australia from September 2013 to December 2015. Raised in a Catholic family that later moved to Sydney, Abbott attended St Ignatius' College Riverview and then the University of Sydney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics. His political career began in 1977 when he joined the Liberal Party at the age of 20. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, representing Warringah in New South Wales. In 2009, Abbott became the Leader of the Opposition after a contested leadership election. Abbott's political beliefs are often characterized as conservative and socially traditionalist. He is known for his opposition to same-sex marriage and his stance on climate change, which was seen as skeptical compared to many in the international community. As Prime Minister, Abbott faced numerous challenges, including a failed attempt to repeal the carbon tax and a leadership spill that led to his replacement by Malcolm Turnbull. Despite these setbacks, Abbott continues to hold significant influence within the Liberal Party and Australian politics. Abbott has authored several books, most notably "Battlelines" (2011), an autobiography detailing his life and political journey, and "The Miner's Promise" (1987), a novel about the mining industry in Australia. His quotes often reflect his conservative values, such as "If it's not broken, don't fix it," and "There's no such thing as society—there are individual men and women, and there are families." Despite controversy surrounding some of these statements, they provide insights into Abbott's political philosophy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Coal is good for humanity, coal is good for prosperity, and above all, coal is an essential part of our economic future if we are to have a strong, vibrant, high-wage, high-employment Australia."

This quote by Tony Abbott emphasizes the importance of coal in his vision for a prosperous Australia. He suggests that coal not only contributes to humanity's needs but also boosts economic growth, creating a strong, vibrant, high-wage, and high-employment society. In other words, he views coal as a key component in the pursuit of a robust Australian economy.


"If the choice is between a carbon tax or a jobless tax, I'll take the jobless tax every time."

This quote suggests that Tony Abbott prefers an economic policy that prioritizes employment over environmental regulations that may impact job creation, such as a carbon tax. He believes that the potential harm to employment caused by a carbon tax (which could increase costs for businesses and potentially lead to job losses) is more concerning than the possible negative impacts on the environment from increased carbon emissions (a "jobless tax"). This stance reflects a strong emphasis on economic growth and employment, even if it comes at the expense of environmental concerns.


"I think one of the things that's important in politics is to be prepared to change your mind based on evidence."

This quote emphasizes the importance of adaptability, open-mindedness, and a data-driven approach in politics. Tony Abbott suggests that politicians should not be rigidly stuck in their beliefs but instead be willing to reassess and alter their opinions when presented with compelling evidence. This approach encourages rational decision-making and fosters an environment for effective governance.


"The more we do, the less we achieve."

This quote by Tony Abbott suggests that over-exertion or excessive activity may lead to a decrease in productivity or effectiveness. In essence, it implies that while doing many things can be fulfilling, it might not necessarily result in significant achievements if the tasks are not executed with focus, purpose, and strategy. The key to success lies not just in doing more but also in doing the right things effectively.


"There's no such thing as climate change. Climate change is a load of crap!" (This quote is controversial and often misattributed, but it was spoken by Tony Abbott in 2009)

Tony Abbott's quote implies that he believes climate change, the widely-accepted scientific consensus about global warming, is not real or significant. His dismissive language suggests he holds a skeptical or even disbelieving stance towards the evidence supporting anthropogenic climate change and its potential consequences for the planet. However, it's important to note that this perspective contradicts overwhelming evidence from various scientific disciplines regarding human impact on climate change.


I think that the best things that governments can do for productivity is not whack on new taxes and, if we can get institutions like schools and hospitals functioning better, well that's obviously good for the overall productiveness of our society.

- Tony Abbott

Taxes, Hospitals, I Think, Whack

We just can't stop people from being homeless if that's their choice.

- Tony Abbott

Choice, Stop, Being, Homeless

Both Mum and Dad were converts to Catholicism, and normally if you convert to Catholicism you have thought about it more than someone who just grew up with it, taking it for granted.

- Tony Abbott

Thought, Mum, Dad, Convert

I mean there are many, many people in all sorts of different countries who don't have a great life, who are subject to injustice. Are we obliged to take all of them who come here? I think the answer is 'Not necessarily.'

- Tony Abbott

Injustice, Here, I Think, Different Countries

What I would like to see is sufficiently good education and health services being delivered to Aboriginal people so that they are prepared and ready to leave and join the economic mainstream if that's their choice.

- Tony Abbott

Education, Sufficiently, Mainstream

The problem with politicians getting to know the issues in indigenous townships is that we tend to suffer from what Aboriginal people call the 'seagull syndrome' - we fly in, scratch around and fly out.

- Tony Abbott

The Problem With, Scratch

I think that marriage is, dare I say it, between a man and a woman, hopefully for life and there are all sorts of other relationships which should be acknowledged and recognised, but I don't know that they can be recognised as marriage.

- Tony Abbott

Think, Other, Which, Recognised

It's very easy for Australians living in big cities to either romanticise or demonise the situation in Aboriginal places - to kind of look at things through the 'noble innocents' prism or through the 'chronically dysfunctional' prism, and I suspect that is so often the case.

- Tony Abbott

Through, Very, Chronically, Innocents

A tax cut to compensate for a tax increase is not a cut - it's a con.

- Tony Abbott

Tax, Cut, Con, Tax Increase

Faith is important to me. It's important to millions of Australians. It helps to shape who I am. It helps to shape my values. But it must never, never dictate my politics.

- Tony Abbott

Politics, Values, Shape, Australians

I instinctively try to protect people from filth.

- Tony Abbott

Try, Protect, Instinctively, Filth

I don't think my religious convictions should be held against me.

- Tony Abbott

Think, Religious, Held, Convictions

Most of the people who are coming to Australia by boat have passed through several countries on the way, and if they simply wanted asylum they could have claimed that in any of the countries through which they'd passed.

- Tony Abbott

Through, Could, Which, Asylum

If we boost productivity, we can improve economic growth.

- Tony Abbott

Productivity, Improve, Boost, Economic

The problem with the Australian practice of abortion is that an objectively grave matter has been reduced to a question of the mother's convenience.

- Tony Abbott

Practice, Abortion, Been, Objectively

I have close family members as well as lots of close friends who are gay. Many of them strongly support gay marriage.

- Tony Abbott

Close Friends, Them, Many, Gay Marriage

I think that people should come to Australia through the front door, not through the back door. If people want a migration outcome, they should go through the migration channels.

- Tony Abbott

Door, Think, Through, Migration

If I was in a refugee camp somewhere on the Pakistani border, of course I'd want to come to Australia.

- Tony Abbott

Want, Refugee, Border, Camp

For small business people, less paperwork means higher profits, boosted sales and more time with the family.

- Tony Abbott

Small, Means, Profits, Business People

You try turning up in America without documents, without a visa, without a passport; you'll be treated as very, very much illegal.

- Tony Abbott

Treated, Very, Documents, Visa

I see myself as a social conservative, but I think that there are lots of social institutions that produce beneficial reforms, like public hospitals, for instance, and schools.

- Tony Abbott

Think, Hospitals, I Think, Social Institutions

I want to see an end to sovereign risk questions over Australia.

- Tony Abbott

Want, See, Over, Sovereign

All of the people who are using their BlackBerries or their iPhones, Facebook, all of the people who are sitting in cafes and hotels rooms doing their work, they're all using wireless technology, and we shouldn't assume that the only way of the future is high speed cable.

- Tony Abbott

Speed, Doing, Rooms, Wireless

The smart way to improve broadband is not to junk the existing network but to make the most of it. It's to let a competitive market deliver the speeds that people need at an affordable price with government improving infrastructure in the areas where market competition won't deliver it.

- Tony Abbott

Competition, Smart, Deliver, Broadband

Oppositions are not there to get legislation through. Oppositions are there to hold the government to account.

- Tony Abbott

Government, Through, Get, Legislation

The Australian public are very fair and they are always prepared to give the leader of a major political party a fair go.

- Tony Abbott

Give, Always, Very, Party

There are no factions in the Liberal Party.

- Tony Abbott

Party, Liberal Party, Factions

I think leadership is knowing what you want to achieve and then purposefully and sensibly taking steps to achieve it, remembering always that you have got to bring people with you if you are seeking to be a successful political leader.

- Tony Abbott

Leader, Achieve, I Think, Sensibly

Now if you are condemned to life on welfare, I'm not so sure that being in a bigger welfare village is that much better than being in a smaller welfare village.

- Tony Abbott

Bigger, Sure, Smaller, Condemned

I feel a little uncomfortable at being asked the sorts of questions that other Catholics in public life tend not to be asked.

- Tony Abbott

Questions, Feel, Other, Catholics

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