Australian news and politics recap: Coalition releases full costings, takes aim at Labor’s ‘lies’

Mr Dutton has been asked how he plans to engage with younger voters if he wins this weekend’s election.

Gen Z and millenials will outnumber baby boomers for the first time in this election.

The Opposition Leader says he knows young people are concerned about climate change and the energy transition, and the Coalition is “the best party for you”.

“We’re the only party with a plan to achieve net zero by 2050 and the government’s plan is not going to achieve their targets,” he said.

He also outlined the Coalition’s policies for home ownership.

The Opposition Leader has accused Labor of being tricky and having a “secret plan” on the Voice to Parliament after Labor minister Anika Wells said the model “we took to the referendum is gone”.

“The Government should be upfront and honest, and the Prime Minister should be honest with the Australian people on the Voice,” Mr Dutton said.

When asked about comments from Noel Pearson, who said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture should be taught seperately at schools, rather than across all subject areas, Mr Dutton deflected the question, saying Australians wre focused on who was looking after the cost-of-living.

“I’ve been a strong supporter of Noel Pearson for a long period of time, so I think we should take on carefully what he’s had to say,” he said.

“But as we go into the election, I think the main thing people are concentrating on is which side of politics is better off to help them and their families.”

It’s costings day for the Coalition, with shadow treasurer Angus Taylor and finace spokeswoman Jane Hume due to stand up later today.

Overnight, the Coalition said their budget bottom line would be better off by cutting $40bn in debt.

Mr Dutton has fielded a few questions about the finer details of his fiscal plan, including about whether it will factor in the productivity impacts of cutting the skilled migration program.

“We’ve done work with the PBO, and that will be reflected in our costings that we’ll release,” he said.

He’s also been asked about whether the costings will show an increased spend in consultants, given his plan to slash 41,000 public servants.

“The costings will include all of the policies that we’ve announced,” he said.

The Opposition Leader is in his own seat of Dickson this morning. It’s the most marginal in Queensland, and he faces fierce competition from Labor and a Climate-200 backed independent.

He has described this Saturday’s election as a “referendum, not about the election campaign, but about the last three years of Government”.

“Are you better off than you were three years ago and what will it be like under three more years,” he said.

Peter Dutton is asked if he needs a “Scott Morrison”-style miracle to win the election.

“I feel confident. I feel good about where our candidates are, and we’ve selected some amazing people, and we’ve got a record number of doors knocked in electorates,” he responds.

“This is evidenced in the research that we’ve done. Our candidates have got a higher name … They have done more work.

“They’re more connected with their local electorates, and that’s why I think you’ll see a lot of surprises, seat by seat on Saturday night, because there was an enormous amount of work that’s been undertaken on the ground.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud has declined to echo Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s “hate media” label for the ABC but criticised its scrutiny of the Coalition’s nuclear costings, accusing the broadcaster of failing to challenge Labor’s “blatant lie” about a $600 billion price tag.

He urged the ABC to focus on “news, not views” while acknowledging its importance in regional Australia and his constructive relationship with chair Kim Williams.

“Well, look, what I’d say it’s been disappointing that organisations like the national broadcaster hasn’t asked the Prime Minister about this blatant lie about a $600 billion cost to nuclear energy,” Mr Littlepourd told ABC News Breakfast.

“The Smart Energy Council is not a credible source. Frontier Economics who modelled ours and costed our plan comes nowhere near $600. You know that and I know that.

“Well, I think unfortunately, James, what’s happened is much of my electorates, people have dropped off listening to the ABC. And that’s a shame because I think it should be more about news and less about views.

“I have had constructive conversations with Kim Williams who I find an honourable man… ABC’s important to me particularly in regional Australia.

“I think the ABC needs to just return to more news, less views… It does a really good job when it sticks to that.”

The Opposition Leader has been asked how he feels about being in the more conservative party ahead of the election.

“I mean, people sort of put tags on you. But in the end, what motivates me, what drives me, and what has done, over a long period of time, is taking care of people. I was a police officer for 10 years, and I’m very determined to make sure that we keep kids safe online,” Mr Dutton told Brisbane’s B105 FM.

“We’ve been pushing really hard against some of the big media companies who I think have been exploiting kids. Maybe that makes you conservative, I’ve been certainly pushing hard for the protection of women and children.

“We established the Australian Senator counter Child Exploitation when I was home affairs minister, that’s down in the valley, and that’s helped literally 1000s of kids to be saved from pedophile networks and from really, you know, bad environments. And I suppose that makes you conservative, as they say, but, but they’re the they’re the sort of things that I believe in and that I’ve fought for in this job.”

The Voice to Parliament debate has resurfaced in the election campaign after Wednesday’s mixed messages from the Labor party, with the Prime Minister forced to address Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s podcast comments.

“I think we’ll look back on it in 10 years’ time and it’ll be a bit like marriage equality,” Ms Wong told the Betoota Advocate, sparking Coalition claims of a Voice revival plan.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and senior ministers rejected the suggestion, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles telling ABC Radio Wong had been “verballed”.

When pressed on the Uluru Statement’s treaty and truth elements, Mr Marles redirected focus to practical measures:

“Our focus is in respect of practically making a difference to closing the gap, and that’s where our focus is. And we’re working with the Indigenous leadership of this country, acknowledging that I think parties of both persuasions have wanted to close the gap.”

Challenged about the Prime Minister’s lack of visits to remote Indigenous communities, Mr Marles defended Mr Albanese’s campaign schedule:

“The Prime Minister has travelled more around the country, and I think has visited more Australians than you could imagine someone doing in the course of a campaign. And so it’s just a function of the time pressure that is on a prime minister in any campaign.”

Aged Care and Sports Minister Anika Wells has dismissed the Coalition’s costings which are due to be released on Thursday.

“The Coalition has more holes than a golf course in the statement they have released to media overnight about their costings,” she told ABC News Breakfast, insisting they’re vague.

”I hope that people that are possibly 72 hours away from becoming Australia’s government have got more detail to offer.”

Peter Dutton has started his campaign in his own Brisbane electorate of Dickson.

The Opposition Leader will launch The Salvation Army Pine Rivers Corps Red Shield Appeal in the suburb of Bray Park.

It’s an event he has hosted for two decades as the chair of the local corps for the past 25 years.

The Liberal leader will make a speech to a crowd of about 130 people who have arrived for the event at Pine Rivers Club, before hosting a press conference later today.

Mr Dutton electorate of Dickson is the most marginal seat in Queensland.