Surfing for Charity - Abbott Not So Swell?

Not for Profit advocacy group GetUp is planning to dog the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott with giant billboards (pictured on left) on the election campaign trail claiming he has reneged on a charity promise.

Pro Bono Australia News reported in June that GetUp members chipped in more than $16,000 to help secure the winning bid in a charity auction for a surfing lesson and meeting with Tony Abbott so he could hear first hand the issues around refugees and boat people.

The group says the Opposition Leader's office suggested the surfing lesson and meeting would happen before the election but after the initial contact the organisation claims Abbott's office has now stopped returning their calls.

GetUp gave the prize to refugee Riz Wakil and a group of fellow refugees and the organisation is now demanding that the Opposition Leader make good on his commitment.

A GetUp spokesperson says if Tony Abbott won't come to meet them, then they've got to go and meet him using massive billboards to follow him around on the campaign trail and remind him of his promise to go surfing for charity with a group of refugees.

GetUp says the $16,000 cheque for charity has been signed, sealed and delivered and the refugees are ready to meet but the only thing missing is Tony Abbott.

The Federal Opposition announced yesterday that a Coalition Government will restore integrity to Australia’s borders with the establishment of an offshore processing centre in Nauru and action on visa approvals at overseas missions. 

Check out the GetUp billboard campaign at: www.getup.org.au/campaign/HonourYourCommitment