Australian news and politics recap April 8: Dutton warns ‘recession’ in sight after Labor’s message

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he “supports work-from-home arrangements”, adding he has “been very clear about that”.

“Our policy applied to public servants in Canberra,” Mr Dutton said.

“But this whole series of lies where Labor had made people believe that somehow it was going to apply economy-wide - it was just deceptive and, frankly, dishonest.

“So, we’ve clarified our position. I’ve apologised for the mistake that we’ve made.

“I think, frankly, it’s a very necessary part of leadership to demonstrate where you have got it wrong to apologise.”

Mr Dutton touted the Coalition’s ability to secure exemptions from US President Donald Trump during his first presidential term, adding it did not happen “by chance”.

“When Donald Trump was president a few years ago, we were able to negotiate with the administration for Australia to be exempt from the tariffs,” Mr Dutton told ABC.

“It didn’t happen by chance

“We had identified Joe Hockey, his work as ambassador was crucial in doing this - identifying people who could have an influence in the decision, in and around the administration.

“That’s exactly what we did.

“This Prime Minister just hasn’t got any of that connection. There’s been no work done in the run-up to what was obviously being announced.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is ‘too weak and too slow’ to handle what a PM needs to manage.

“My job as prime minister, if I’m given that great honour, will be to stand up for our country’s best interests,” he said on ABC.

“It doesn’t matter what President Trump throws at us, whether there’s a broader war in Europe, whether we’re talking about some conflict in the Middle East or elsewhere, a terrorist attack, heaven forbid, in some part of the world, or a shock to the stock market - the Australian Prime Minister needs to deal with what ever is coming our way.

“The problem with our Prime Minister now is that he’s just too weak and too slow to respond to these issues and to act in our country’s best interests.”

Health Minister Mark Butler says imminent strike action from a union representing 9,000 doctors will be “distressing”.

Doctors will walk off the job from Tuesday until the end of Thursday as a bitter pay dispute in NSW erupts.

Mr Butler said he had spoken with the NSW Health Minister.

“We have talked about our concern, about the impact that will have on patients,” he told Sunrise.

Mr Butler said “hundreds and hundreds of elective surgeries” will be impacted, adding that it would be “deeply distressing for those patients.”

He warned of impacts on emergency departments that would need to “be managed very, very carefully”.

“This will ultimately hurt patients and the system,” Mr Butler said, urging all parties to return to the negotiating table for the safety of patients.