Returning Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd found an opportunity to tag Tony Abbott as a doomsday prophesier without any concrete economic plan for the nation's future. Mr. Rudd also called for a productivity pact between government, business and unions in his first major speech before the National Press Club.

Last July 11, PM Kevin Rudd faced the media and discussed his plans to develop a cooperation plan between business, unions and government. He encouraged the three groups to create a national competitiveness agenda for the benefit of everyone.

Since his ouster of former prime minister Julia Gillard from the Australian Labor Party leadership and the takeover of running the country, Rudd has met with the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Council of Trade Unions four times.

Rudd says he didn't believe in class warfare. Despite the bashing of the Coaltion regarding his Kevin 747 reputation, Rudd confirms his two-day trip to Papua New Guinea this coming Sunday. This will be his second international trip as Prime Minister. He travelled to Indonesia last week to discuss trade issues and asylum seekers.

Kevin Rudd appeared before the National Press Club as part of his plan to challenge Tony Abbott to a series of debates starting with the economy.

The Prime Minister took advantage of Tony Abbott's absence by calling the Opposition Leader the most conservative politician in history to become leader of the Liberal Party.

Tony Abbot had earlier said he would only debate Kevin Rudd if the Prime Minister will call for an election or recall Parliament. Abbott was unable to attend the press conference with the National Press Club since he went to Melbourne to visit the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.

In reference to Abbott's absence, Rudd says the Opposition Leader did not want to face public judgment in an economic policy debate.

Rudd said Abbott is "particularly formidable in the art of negative politics." He also added it is wrong for anyone in the national political debate to talk Australia down.

Rudd acknowledged that reforms are needed in a lot of things. He also criticised Abbott's daily diatribe of negative politics. Rudd believes Abbot only has one objective: to cause Australians to feel that the national economy and security is about to fall apart.

Rudd told the National Press Club that the Australian economy is entirely manageable. According to Rudd, Australia's economic strategy should be about diversifying the economy since China's economy is slowing down.

China is Australia's biggest trading partner in terms of commodities and the slowdown has affected Australia's economy. Rudd says more jobs should be created in food production, manufacturing and service industries.

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