Asked on Network Ten whether he would accept the prime minister's offer to debate him next week at the National Press Club, Mr Abbott said it was more important that Mr Rudd name the election date.
Asked whether he was too scared to debate Mr Rudd he said he debated Mr Rudd every day.
“I mean, Mr Rudd can recall Parliament if he wishes to have a debate. As soon as he names the election date, then the election debate will be in full swing,” he said.
Mr Rudd said Friday he wanted “an open public debate on the question, to start off with, of debt and deficit”.
“Let's have it fully and out in the open at the National Press Club,” he said. “Sometime next week, sometime the following week but let's actually have a debate about the facts.”
Mr Abbott confirmed that the Coalition planned to abolish the carbon tax even if Mr Rudd changed the mechanism from a fixed to floating price as he says he is considering.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/abbott-ducks-rudds-call-for-economy...