By James Grubel
BRISBANE (Reuters) - Australia's conservative opposition leader pledged on Sunday to jail people-smugglers for a minimum 10 years, formally launching his campaign for an August 21 election with an appeal for tougher border protection.
Illegal immigration could be a decisive issue in what is tipped to be a close election, with opinion polls showing that voters in key marginal seats are concerned that Canberra is not doing enough to turn back boatloads of asylum seekers.
Opposition leader Tony Abbott, speaking to party faithful in the key political battleground of Queensland state, said people-smugglers who repeatedly offended would go to jail for 10 years or more -- sentences more akin to rape and manslaughter.
"We are determined to send a strong message to people smugglers that their cruel and callous trade in human cargo must stop," Abbott said, launching his campaign under the banner "Stand up for Australia, stand up for real action."
Abbott also promised to kill off the government's proposed 30 percent mining tax on the first day of a conservative government, and produce a national economic blueprint within his first month.
He also pledged to announce his own reform agenda within 12 months, having reviewed a recently published tax inquiry which came up with more than 100 recommendations for reforming the nation's complex tax system.
"From day one under a coalition government, the mining industry could again do what it does best: creating wealth and employing hundreds of thousands of Australians without the threat of an investment-killing, jobs-destroying great big new tax," he said.
The broader mining industry is campaigning against the government's tax on iron ore and coal operations, despite global heavyweights BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata agreeing to the tax.
Abbott also promised to set up a carbon-emissions reduction fund in his first three months to combat climate change. He opposes the government's plan for a carbon-trading scheme.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Sunday dismissed the opposition's boatpeople policy, saying her government had already toughened penalties for people smuggling.
The government introduced new border protection laws this year, including a maximum penalty of 20 years' jail and a maximum of 10 years' jail for assisting people smugglers.
(Writing by Michael Perry; Editing by Mark Bendeich)
