Abbott the 'sworn enemy' of divisiveness

UP on stage stood the tired, down below were the hungry.

Prime ministerial hopeful Tony Abbott has capped off a long first day on the campaign trail with a visit to western Sydney, where local Muslims gathered to break their Ramadan fast for the day.

The seminary drop-out and staunch Catholic said Monday's iftar dinner at Auburn was a perfect microcosm of ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse Australia.

"There is unity in our diversity," Mr Abbott said.

The opposition leader's arrival sparked a respectable round of applause, but in a room full of people who've been waiting till sunset for a bite, food was always going to be the main event.

One woman appeared unfazed by the luminaries around her - Philip Ruddock, Jason Clare and Australian Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohammed were all in the audience - and chose to bag up fellow guests' leftovers rather than press the flesh.

If Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wants voters to see him as a negative purveyor of three-word slogans, the coalition leader wants us to know he's the man to end the gender debates and class warfare that have captivated Canberra.

"I am the sworn enemy of anyone who seeks to divide Australian from Australian over things that can't readily be changed: over class, over gender, over birthplace and particularly over faith," he said.

"Our greatest days are ahead of us."

But his pitch to western Sydney won't rest solely on unity.

Mr Abbott told the crowd he was committed to cutting red tape, lowering taxes and ensure the WestConnex road project goes ahead "as quickly as is humanly possible".

Auburn's Liberal Mayor Ned Attie said Mr Abbott's tribute to diversity and acceptance struck the right chord.

"It appealed to what the people are about," he told AAP.

He said asylum seeker policy remained close to locals' hearts.

"Auburn has traditionally been considered a refugee welcome zone," he said.

"A lot of people come to me and say, look, we came as refugees, we'd like to see others come the right way, not just show up on the doorstep."

Local Wally Elriche told AAP Mr Abbott had earned his respect just by showing up.

"The fact that he made his way down here, it shows a lot," he said.

And the talk of tolerance?

"Oh, that's a bunch of bulls***, just to get some votes," he laughed.

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