Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claims Labor's approach to energy, cost of living relief 'just doesn't cut it', vows to end 'incompetence' if Coalition wins election
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has vowed to end Labor's "incompetence and weakness" should the Coalition win the Federal Election, doubling down on pledges to deliver effective cost of living relief and bring down energy prices.
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5 | ‘You’ll see a very significant benefit’: Peter Dutton spruiks Coalition’s gas policy |
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has spruiked the Coalition’s gas policy during an interview with Sky News Australia.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has claimed the Albanese government's approach to energy and cost of living relief "just doesn't cut it" as he promised to end Labor's "incompetence".
With millions of Australians still struggling to make ends meet in the face of high interest rates and soaring power prices, the upcoming election appears set to hinge on which major party can convince voters they have the better plan for navigating tough economic conditions.
In an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia on Wednesday, Mr Dutton doubled down on key commitments to provide immediate relief to households and businesses through halving the fuel excise and boosting domestic gas supply.
Taking aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Opposition Leader acknowledged there was still a long way for the campaign to run, but expressed optimism voters would look favourably on his party's policies.
"There's a lot of water to go onto this bridge yet and I think a lot policy to come out, a lot contemplation, and when people compare the pair they're going to see a Prime Minister who has let them down over the last three years," he said.
"(He has) broken his promise about $275 power bill reductions, they've gone up by $1,300, and that's just the start of the financial pressures families are under.
"On the other hand, we have a positive plan to manage the economy effectively, to keep Australians safe, to make sure we can help young Australians realise the dream of home ownership, and also deliver a quality healthcare system."
Focusing on cost of living, Mr Dutton highlighted the underwhelming response to the government's $5 tax cuts, pointing to polling which he said showed support for the measure stood at just 51 per cent.
By contrast, the Opposition leader claimed his plan to cut the fuel excise enjoyed 68 per cent support.
"So when people have heard it, when they know the two offerings, then I think they default to ours," he said.
"People know that the 70 cents a day tax cut starting in 15 months' time; it just doesn't cut it given that the average family is $50,000 worse off under this government."
The Opposition Leader also defended his plan to boost Australia's supply of gas, arguing "downward pressure" on prices for major energy users would translate into lower prices for consumers.
Mr Dutton claimed Australia needed to "change the way in which the system works" by establishing a reserve and heading off potential shortages.
"It has a downward pressure on prices for commercial users of gas. The big manufacturing companies who are employing hundreds of thousands of Australians, their prices come down," he said.
"The grocery manufacturers, their prices comes down and that has a delivery of savings to people at the supermarket."
In addition to discussing energy and the cost of living, Mr Dutton reiterated his commitment to funding Medicare, saying "we need to get more GPs into the system".
He also accused the government of having "broken the Medicare system", noting bulk billing rates had fallen from 84 per cent to 77 per cent since he had been in charge of the Health Department.
The Opposition Leader added the Coalition would investigate "waste" in the department, as well as the National Disability Insurance Scheme, in order to ensure taxpayer funds were being spent appropriately.
Mr Dutton claimed the government had hired "literally thousands of people", but failed to specify how they were helping deliver frontline services.
While he committed to ensuring Australia's economy was rebuilt and government services restored, the Opposition Leader said he could not give a timeframe for how long it would take to "clean up Labor's mess".
Despite this, he vowed to ensure the "incompetence and weakness" displayed by the Albanese government would not be continued if the Coalition emerged victorious on May 3.