Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says Tony Abbott is like a walking vuvuzela with his constant negativity about the carbon tax.
The carbon tax is expected to sail through the Senate on Tuesday, while the opposition leader heads overseas for a meeting of conservative pollies.
Asked about Mr Abbott's continued opposition to the tax, Mr Albanese likened him to the loud, monotonous and irritating plastic horns that were used by fans during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
"You can't just run around as a walking vuvuzela and make a single noise; `no, no, no', to everything that happens," Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney.
"And what's occurring with Tony Abbott is when people first hear the walking vuvuzela, it's an interesting sound, it gets your attention.
"But over a period of time, when you realise there's just one noise and it's monotone and it's relentless, think the Australian people will increasingly be agitated by his failure to show any leadership."
Mr Albanese also criticised Mr Abbott for heading to the UK as the Senate votes on the carbon tax.
"This is an important reform and an historic day and Tony Abbott's gone missing ... flown off to London," Mr Albanese said.
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