Australian news and politics recap March 27: Peter Dutton outlines election pitch in Budget reply

Dutton said at the centre of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis was skyrocketing cost of energy, due to Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen’s “reckless renewable only policy train wreck”.

“As every Australian knows, energy is the economy,” he said.

“Australians are paying some of the highest power prices in the world, indeed, up to three times more than comparable economies, and the Albanese government has broken its core election promise when it comes to energy.

“Your electricity bill hasn’t gone down by $275 as Labor promised on 97 occasions.

“The Prime Minister and the Treasurer refuse even to mention that word even though they looked you in the eye and said that they would bring your power prices down by $275 each year. As Australians can attest, they’re now paying more than $1300 than what Labor promised in their energy bills.”

Dutton promised to fight cost-of-living pressures at their source.

“I make this guarantee to the Australian people tonight. In line with our national interest, we will continue to invest in essential services and critical areas of the economy,” he said.

“Like health and aged care, veteran support, the NDIS, the Indigenous affairs, childcare and defence. We won’t cut front-line service delivery roles. We will ensure that the services Australians rely on are sustainable.

He said under Labor all people could be sure to expect “is more reckless and wasteful spending which will cause interest rates and inflation to stay higher for longer”.

“That means you’ll pay more for everything - more for food, rents, mortgage, power and insurance,” Dutton said.

“You’ll continue to pay more tax, too. But under the Coalition we will fight cost of living pressures at their source.”

The Opposition Leader is now outlining his plan to rein in spending and has taken a massive swipe at the incumbent government.

“Over three years, the Albanese Government has increased spending as a share of the economy more than any other government since the recession of the early 1990s,” he says.

“Such rapid and unrestrained spending is not only adding to the debt our children will have to repay.

“It’s also keeping the pressure on inflation during a cost-of-living crisis – as the Reserve Bank Governor has repeatedly pointed out.”

Mr Dutton then goes on to outline how his government would cut spending.

“We will end the reckless $20 billion Rewiring the Nation Fund.

“We will stop the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund – under which not a single additional new home has been built.

“We will scrap Labor’s $16 billion of production tax credits over the next decade for critical minerals and green hydrogen.

“And we will reverse Labor’s increase of 41,000 Canberra-based public servants – saving $7 billion a year once in place, and well over $10 billion over the forward estimates.”

Food charities like Foodbank and OzHarvest are busier than ever - and they do an incredibly iportant job in the community during a cost-of-living crisis. They also do it with very little government funding, relying almost entirely on fundraising and donations.

Mr Dutton has revealed his government would fund them to the tune of a hefty $50 million.

“Amidst Labor’s cost-of-living pressures, charities are experiencing increased demand – including from Australians who have never previously relied on their support,” he says.

“To scale-up assistance and provide immediate relief, we will commit $50 million over four years for food charities – like Foodbank, SecondBite and OzHarvest – to expand their services, including school breakfast programs.”

This is a new pledge and a significant one for thoe food charities working the frontline.

The fuel excise plan has received plenty of coverage today.

Check out the full story here.

Now he’s expanding on it in his speech:

“A Dutton Coalition government will halve the fuel excise for 12 months on the first sitting day of the next Parliament.

“For a household with one car filling-up once a week, that’s a saving of $14 a week on average – or around $700 over 12 months.

“For a household with two cars filling-up once a week, that’s a saving of $28 a week on average – or around $1500 over 12 months.

“Working with industry, we will ensure that heavy vehicle road users also benefit from this measure.

“The ACCC will ensure that the fuel excise cut will be passed on in full to consumers.

“This policy will cost $6 billion.”

The Opposition Leader has wheeled out the “cruel hoax” tag the Coalition has been using to dismantle the Albanese Government’s proposed tax cuts.

“Tuesday’s Budget was one for the next five weeks – not the next five years,” he says.

“It was a shameless election vote-buying exercise – not a plan for our country’s future. It was about saving Prime Minister Albanese – not safeguarding our nation.

“Jim Chalmers’ so called tax cut ‘top up’ is simply a tax cut cop-out. It’s a cruel hoax.

“Labor will spend $17 billion of taxpayers’ money to give you back 70 cents a day – in 15 months’ time.

“And yet, a family with a typical mortgage is $50,000 worse off under Labor.

“I think it’s insulting, to be honest.”

“In his fourth Budget – like the previous three – the Treasurer again painted a rosy picture of the economy.

“But Australians aren’t stupid.

“Your bills tell the true story of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.

“And here’s the facts of the Albanese Government’s economic legacy:

“Rents are up 18 per cent.

“Housing is up 14 per cent.

“Groceries are up 30 per cent.

“Electricity is up 32 per cent.

“Insurance is up 35 per cent.”

Everyone loves a listicle, and the Opposition Leader has delivered his verbally, keeping it short, sharp and to the point.

“We have a positive plan to deliver:

1. A stronger economy with lower inflation;
2. Cheaper energy;
3. Affordable homes;
4. Quality healthcare; and
5. Safer communities.”

He also said a Coalition Government would introduce four pieces of legislation on the first sitting day of Parliament.

These include bills on energy reduction; lower immigration and more homes; keeping Australians safe and guaranteed funding for health, education and essential services.

“Every election is important,” he says.

But this election matters more than others in recent history. It’s a sliding doors moment for our nation.

“A returned Albanese Government in any form won’t just be another three bleak years. Setbacks will be set in stone. Our prosperity will be damaged for decades to come.”

Mr Dutton relates the stories of a mum in a Perth grocery store who couldn’t pay her bills, as well as that of a young couple in Brisbane who moved back in with their parents because they can’t buy a home.

“Such stories are common across the country,” he says.

“Stories of rent and mortgage stress. Stories of power, shopping, and insurance bills going through the roof. Stories of home ownership being out of reach for so many. Stories of it being increasingly difficult to see a GP. And stories of crime on our streets.

“For so many Australians, aspiration has turned to anxiety, optimism to pessimism, and national confidence to national uncertainty.

“The truth is, Australians can’t afford three more years of the Albanese Government.”