While shadow cabinet has resolved to block the tax, the Opposition Leader’s office is refusing to release details until after tomorrow’s partyroom meeting. But senior Liberals said today that Woodside’s warning the tax may have to be passed on to consumers “strengthened the arm” of its critics.

Not only is Brendan Nelson advocating big budget cuts, he is proposing the spending of billions more on pensions. Every time, however, he attacks the Rudd Government for dudding pensioners, he is indirectly accusing the Howard government of intending to do the very same thing, simply because Labor pilfered John Howard’s $4 billion pensioner policy during the last election campaign, embellished it a little, and then implemented in it full in the budget.

Woodside Petroleum’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Chatterji said today that the oil and gas giant cannot simply absorb the cost of the Rudd Government’s proposed $2.5 billion new tax on condensate. “In order to stay competitive, businesses seek to pass cost increases on to their customers,” he said in a statement.