Labor candidate for Kennedy Ken Robertson calls Tony Abbott racist, bigot Labor candidate Ken Robertson said he hoped Australia "never has to suffer (Tony Abbott's) Catholicism." Pic: Mark Calleja Source: News Limited JUST days after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called for a "positive" campaign, one of his Queensland Labor candidates has accused Tony Abbott of being a racist and secretly wanting to bring back the White Australia policy. Repeatedly referring to the Opposition Leader as "rabbit," Kennedy candidate Ken Robertson described him as a "very, very bigoted person" and said he hoped Australia "never has to suffer his Catholicism." Mr Robertson was recently announced as Labor's candidate to take on Bob Katter after the seat failed to attract any other preselection nominations. READ MORE: Rudd revival stalls in Queensland The former rigger in the Mount Isa copper smelter - who also served in the Australian Merchant Navy - slammed Mr Katter as being "past his used by date." When asked to clarify why he thought Mr Abbott was "bigoted" - including whether he thought there were race, gender or sexual orientation issues, he replied: "All of the above." He went on to say that he was convinced Mr Abbott had issues regarding race. "I'm sure there are with him, he'd have the White Australia policy back in a flash, if he could," he told The Courier-Mail. Mr Abbott declined to comment but Fadden MP and Coalition frontbencher Stuart Robert called for an immediate public apology for the "outrageous smear" comments and demanded Mr Rudd "sack" Mr Robertson if there isn't one. Mr Robert said the situation would "test" the "credibility" of Mr Rudd's "new way." "He has called for a campaign based on a new way, his candidate is now way out of line," Mr Robert said, on behalf of the Coalition. Kevin, are you going to lead on this or not? This is about Kevin now. When asked what he thought about Mr Abbott personally, Mr Robertson accused him of being "bigoted." "I hope Australia never has to suffer his Catholicism and the things that he's doing personally, because I think he's a very, very bigoted person and that's my opinion, he's a very bigoted man," he said. Mr Robertson said he believed Mr Rudd was the better performer during the early days of the campaign. "Mate, I think he's doing good - he's certainly offering a lot better stuff than what Rabbit's doing," he said. I just can't figure out how Rabbit thinks he's going to be able to pay for a lot of stuff. While he initially backed away from the name "rabbit," he later defended taking a harsher approach with Mr Abbott. "Look at all the names that he called Julia when he was there," he said. If he's asking for quarter now, well he never gave any before. Mr Robertson - who is hoping to win over voters in the conservative Katter stronghold - said gay marriage was "not on (his) agenda," but also said he would "probably vote for it" and that he "wouldn't be against it." "I don't think it's a big issue," he said. He added that he would support gay marriage, "so long as it was not compulsory." He hastily said the latter part of the comment was a "family joke." Mr Abbott has spent a week each year for a number of years working in remote indigenous communities and has promised to continue to do so. He has also committed to the traditional indigenous affairs portfolio becoming part of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, should he win the election. Comment was still being sought from Mr Rudd's office last night.