In 'Mad Monk' Abbott, conservative opposition has a leader with spirit

CANBERRA: Australia's new conservative opposition leader, Tony Abbott, is nicknamed the "Mad Monk" and once flirted with the priesthood, but his crusade against the government's emissions trade plan has been anything but madcap.

A pugnacious and socially conservative Catholic who has fought everything from attempts to make Australia a republic to embryonic stem cell research and same-sex marriages, Abbott was elected opposition leader on Tuesday in a surprise win. His election over former investment banker and party moderate Malcolm Turnbull means the conservatives have reversed support for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's emissions scheme.

"This is a A$120 billion ($110 billion) tax on the Australian public. We can't just waive that through the parliament. It would be grossly irresponsible of us," Abbott told journalists after his victory on Tuesday. Elections are due in late 2010.