Australian politics and news recap April 12: Anthony Albanese calls Jacinta Price’s Trump comment ‘strange’

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We will be back tomorrow to bring you all the events from the official campaign launch of both parties.

Education minister Jason Clare says Jacinta Price’s ‘make Australia great again’ comment is “really disappointing” and shows the Liberals are trying to copy US policies.

“You know, what she said today, tells us they just want to import US policies and US slogans to Australia, the only thing she didn’t have today was the hat,” Mr Clare said.

“I think most Australians, when they look at the news one day and look at Peter Dutton policies the next day, can see what’s going on here.

“It’s a cut and paste from the United States.”

Peter Dutton has made his eighth stop at a petrol station in Redcliffe in the electorate of Swan, this time purchasing a pie, a sausage roll and two Coca-Cola soft drinks.

The Oppostion Leader promoted his election promise to halve the fuel excise, to reduce the petrol price by 25c, remarking that he would buy two $7.50 meal deals with the money saved on the average tank through the pledge.

Mr Dutton met Liberal candidate for Swan Mic Fels and Liberal Senator Slade Brockman at the Night Owl Petrol station off the Great Eastern Highway in Perth’s east.

Mr Dutton discussed the savings Australians could make on the average tank of fuel, estimated at about $14 under the policy.

He said the extra money would take financial pressure off households.

He also pontificated on the increased costs of cars under Labor’s vehicle emission scheme, claiming Mr Fels’ Amarok Ute would be more expensive under the policy.

Mr Fels said it would be about $14,000 more expensive.

Mr Dutton shook hands with the petrol station manager and posed for photos.

He declined to take a bite when he was showing the media pack his haul from his meal deals.

Anthony Albanese has addressed Jacinta Price’s ‘make Australia great again’ comment while at the Tangney campaign barbeque.

He accused the Liberals of making “strange comments” while in Perth.

“The opposition don’t seem to quite be able to keep a policy on a day to day basis, and today they’ve been here, making some rather strange comments and policies as well, trying to borrow from another country,” Mr Albanese said.

“What we know, what we know as Australians, is that we don’t need to borrow from anyone, because here we are building the fairest country on Earth, the most prosperous country on earth and the best country on Earth.

“And what we’re doing here as well, is building a society that’s enriched by our multiculturalism.”

Anthony Albanese has promised he’ll start from scratch with an overhaul of environmental laws and the role of an independent Federal watchdog after declaring the Nature Positive legislation was “off the table”.

The Prime Minister dumped the second tranche of the controversial laws, which would have established a Federal environmental protection agency, after the Coalition and Greens refused to back it in the Senate.

The Greens and crossbenchers including David Pocock were close to a deal with Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to pass the legislation before Mr Albanese stepped in after intense lobbying from the WA Government and resources sector.

Standing with WA Premier Roger Cook in Perth on Saturday, Mr Albanese said “of course” his plan was to start from scratch on new environmental laws.

“They’re not on the table. They’re off the table,” he said of the previous Nature Positive laws.

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Jacinta Price put an end to rumours that there is bad blood between herself and Michaelia Cash, saying “we don’t have issues”.

“I’m proud of this woman,” she said about Cash.

“You know, there is suggestion that we’ve got issues. We don’t have issues. We like to ensure that we’re promoting the best people for the job.”

Jacinta Price said as the minister of efficiency, she will be focused on ensuring the right person is hired for roles despite race, gender and sexuality.

“None of that is going to matter. What’s going to matter is the right person for the job.”

Jacinta Price has reassured voters that the Department of Government Efficiency is not an ode to Donald Trump, despite Trump launching an initiative with the same name.

“The Department of Government Efficiency, it’s not a department. It’s got nothing to do with the department,” she said.

“In fact, it will sit in Prime Minister and Cabinet. And just to clarify, it is not an ode to Donald Trump.

“The media, you’re all obsessed with Donald Trump. We’re not obsessed with Donald Trump.

“We’re actually obsessed with ensuring that we can improve the circumstances for Australians.”