NICOLA SMITH: Voters ‘know the economy is f....d and they want someone to unf... it,’ warns polling expert

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton must land one of the most pivotal speeches of his political career on Thursday night as he presents an economic blueprint that will determine the fortunes of his election campaign.

With Labor chalking up a string of financial relief promises that are now cutting through to struggling voters, the Coalition Leader has faced mounting calls, within and outside of his own ranks, to bring his own substantial cost-of-living package to the table.

Whatever new economic policies are revealed in Mr Dutton’s post-Budget address must contain the X-factor to deliver some 20 seats needed to oust Prime Minister Anthony Albanese from power.

The Coalition believes it has a vote winner in its offer to save motorists about $14 a week by halving fuel excise for a year, pitched to counter Labor’s $5-a-week tax cut from 2026, which the Opposition has pledged to overturn.

But fevered speculation that the Prime Minister will call the Federal poll on Friday, which Mr Albanese has allowed to percolate, was already threatening to snatch the wind from Mr Dutton’s sails on Thursday afternoon as he prepared to address the nation.

Top polling experts say he faces a turning point and must deliver the goods.

Tony Barry, director of corporate affairs and communications at the Redbridge Group told The Nightly that focus groups conducted before the petrol excise announcement showed that “soft”, or undecided, voters had picked up the message of energy rebates and tax cuts from this week’s Budget.

“Most have described it as “Band-aids” but they also say every little bit counts. They are looking for something more substantive from the Opposition,” he said.

“They really want to see something reformist. They know the economy is f....d and they want someone to unf... it,” he said.

The $1.8 billion in energy bill relief, which grants a $150 rebate to every household, was unveiled ahead of the Budget alongside a centrepiece 8.5b fund to expand Medicare bulk-billing and a $25 cap on PBS medicines, down from $31.60.

Dr Andrew Hughes, a political communications and marketing expert at the Australian National University, said the splurge of policies was a “smart move” that had put Labor on the front foot.

The Government’s multi-faceted and layered strategy compared well with the “Woolworths retailer special” of a fuel subsidy that the Coalition had offered up so far, he said.

Dr Hughes said the Opposition had to up its game beyond matching Labor’s policies like the bulk-billing initiative and come up with fresh proposals.

“Ultimately, you need to have your own ideas, a different strategy, a different approach,” he said.

In an election centred on the cost-of-living, proposing cuts to the public service to lower the government payroll did not improve voters lives at a tangible level, Dr Hughes argued.

The Opposition Leader had to leave his “small target” strategy built around his strengths of law and order and defence to tell people what he would do for them economically.

“He can’t wait any longer,” said Dr Hughes, adding that the significance of Mr Dutton’s speech would be “massive.”

“If he doesn’t nail it, then I’d say that’s him probably gone for the election.”