Politician under fire over lies 'gaffe'

Tony Abbott, leader of the conservative opposition Liberal Party,

stunned many political observers in his explanation during a TV interview of a backflip on his month-old promise to raise no new taxes if his party is voted into power.

He now promises to levy a new company tax to fund paid maternity leave if he becomes prime minister at elections late this year.

Mr Abbott, a 52-year-old former seminarian, drew a distinction between what he sometimes says "in the heat of discussion" and "an absolutely calm, considered, prepared, scripted" remark.

"Which is one of the reasons why the statements that need to be taken absolutely as gospel truth is (sic) those carefully prepared, scripted remarks," Mr Abbott told Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"All of us, when we're in the heat of verbal combat, so to speak, will sometimes say things that go a little bit further," he added.

The remarks were described in the media yesterday as a gaffe that could haunt Mr Abbott's election campaign in the months ahead.

The Courier Mail newspaper described the explanation as "an almost fatal admission: only believe what I say when I say you can".

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper saw his comments as "an extraordinary admission" during what The Age newspaper said was a "damaging interview".

However, Mr Abbott's colleagues sprang to his defence, saying the comments were a mark of his honesty.