Should the Liberal Party win September's Federal Election, Mr Abbott has promised to scrap the Gillard Government's highly criticised carbon tax which he said would directly benefit local businesses in Ararat.

Mr Abbott made the announcement as he toured Gason and AME Systems on Friday while in the region as part of the 2013 Pollie Pedal fundraiser.

"Gason has a carbon tax bill of about $40,000 a year and AME has carbon tax bill of about $30,000 a year embedded in their power bills and now there are other costs that these businesses face which are all impacted by the carbon tax," he said.

"Because the carbon tax affects gas and electricity basically it cascades through the economy, so the power cost of these businesses will go down substantially without the carbon tax and their other costs should reduce too.

"Let's not forget that if this government gets re-elected the carbon tax comes on heavy transport after the first of July next year, so getting rid of the carbon tax is a big plus for all local businesses."

Mr Abbott was given a guided tour by management at both Gason and AME Systems, where he met and chatted with local workers.

The Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Technology and Personnel Stuart Robert and Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan accompanied the Opposition Leader as he visited the manufacturing plants.

"It is very nice to be here in Ararat," Mr Abbott said.

"Both here at AME Systems and earlier at Gasons we have witnessed outstanding examples of successful regional manufacturing.

"No one should think that we have no future in manufacturing in Australia, because companies like AME and Gason demonstrate that it can and does have a future.

"Both of these companies, despite their success, are burdened by the additional costs that this government have placed upon them.

"Our plan for manufacturing begins with getting rid of the carbon tax."

It is the first time Mr Abbott has visited the Ararat region since 2006, where he was then part of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service strike force that was on hand to help battle the Grampians' bushfires.

Mr Abbott said he had been briefed by Mr Tehan on specific regional projects in Ararat and Friday evening he met with local footballers and discussed the proposed Alexandra Oval redevelopment.

"The best thing we can do for this region is get the economy growing strongly and the best way to do that is to get taxes down and red tape down and that way we will get productivity up," he said.

The Pollie Pedal fundraiser sees a number of high profile politicians, journalists and professional cyclists cover 1000 kilometres from Adelaide to Geelong, this year raising funds in support of Australia's 2.6 million disability carers.

Mr Abbott said the week-long event gave him the perfect opportunity to meet with voters and discuss important issues relating to them ahead of this year's federal election.

"Since entering Victoria I have spent a bit of time in Casterton, Merino, Hamilton, Dunkeld, Halls Gap and now I've been in Ararat," he said.

"On the way I have stopped at a few schools including at Pomonal and Moyston, so I am certainly getting a flavour of western regional Victoria.

"The legs are ok, it has been a long ride but it is for a good cause. If you want people to sponsor you for serious amounts of money, you have got to put in serious leg work as they say - I am very happy to be a part of it."

Mr Tehan, who is also taking part in the charity ride, said the Opposition Leader had led the way on the bike.

"There was a huge hill (Carroll's Cutting) coming up into Ararat and Tony did a great job," he said.

"He went up there at 100 miles an hour and I tell you what everyone else was floundering, so he is holding up very well."