Peter Dutton’s plan to slash power prices, migration in fiery budget reply speech
Peter Dutton used his budget reply speech to spruik himself as the next John Howard, revealing how he will slash migration, the public service and energy prices. VOTE IN OUR POLL
Federal Election
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Peter Dutton has promised a gas boom for the east coast to keep the lights on and lower energy prices, $400m for youth mental health and to slash migration by 25 per cent in a major pitch to become Australia’s next prime minister.
The Opposition Leader used his budget reply speech on Thursday night to spruik himself as the next John Howard, vowing to be a “strong leader and a steady hand” while making tough decisions — including a 25 per cent cut in migration.
In the speech, delivered the night before Anthony Albanese was expected to call a May election, Mr Dutton built on his promise to ease cost-of-living pressures by halving the fuel excise for 12 months.
“The choice is clear at the next election,” Mr Dutton said. “I will be a strong leader and a steady hand – just as John Howard was.”
If elected, he vowed to immediately introduce a new national gas plan that would secure an additional 10 to 20 per cent of domestically produced supply for the east coast’s demand that would have been exported.
The Coalition will also audit development-ready projects, especially in the southern states where shortfalls are looming, and halve approval times.
Mr Dutton said $1bn would be invested in a critical gas infrastructure fund to increase gas pipeline and storage capacity, enforce “use it or lose it” stipulations for gas drilling companies so offshore gas fields are not locked-up for years, and develop a fit-for-purpose gas trigger to safeguard supply.
“Gas is key to making electricity and keeping the lights on,” he said. Our plan has been independently costed as 44 per cent cheaper than Labor’s plan. That’s a saving of $263bn to Australians.
“If a plan is cheaper, electricity prices will be cheaper – as fewer costs are passed on to consumers.”
Mr Dutton used mental health to challenge Labor’s traditionally strong record on health, unveiling an extra $400m for youth mental health services.
The former health minister also announced an expansion of the National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health, which he established in 2014.
A Dutton Coalition government would set a target of 400,000 apprentices and trainees nationwide and provide small and medium businesses in critical industries with $12,000 to support them.
On the first sitting day of the next parliament, he also promised to introduce four critical pieces of legislation on energy, immigration, housing, health, and community safety.
“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,” he said.
Mr Dutton also teased voters with a “significant funding commitment to defence” to come in the election campaign, as Labor comes under fire for not significantly increasing spending as geopolitical tensions rise.
Mr Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers this week promised voters $5 a week off in tax cuts, Mr Dutton made the bold decision to forgo his own tax cuts after vowing to repeal Labor’s.
Instead, the Coalition claims it will save $10bn over the forward estimates by cutting “inflationary, ineffectual and imprudent spending”.
Mr Dutton said a Coalition government would end the $20bn rewiring the nation fund, Labor’s $10bn housing fund, and $16bn in production tax credits for critical minerals and green hydrogen.
But his promises of spending cuts came with reassurances that the Coalition was not planning to cut funding from health, aged care, veterans’ support, the NDIS or defence while also pledging $50m for food charities helping vulnerable Australians.
The speech builds on the Coalition’s previous election pledges including sacking 41,000 federal bureaucrats and allowing first home buyers to use up to $50,000 in super for their deposit before flagging a major housing policy to come during the campaign.
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