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Phillip Coorey

Yesterday

Peter Dutton at a housing project in Queensland on Monday.

Angus Taylor vows Coalition costings will beat Labor’s

The Coalition will go to the May 3 election promising voters a substantially stronger budget bottom line.

This Month

Dutton decides it’s time to drop a big rock in the pond

Dutton’s decision to launch his campaign the same day as Labor was strange. Every day he and Albanese neutralise each other, Albanese wins

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese at their launches on Sunday.

PM and Dutton bet the house in election spendathon

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese have thrown caution to the wind by pledging another $12 billion in competing tax and housing measures.

Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton composite index 12/4/25

Dutton promises tax-deductible mortgages for first home buyers

First home buyers who buy newly built homes will be able to deduct their interest payments for five years, as both parties up the ante on housing.

Peter Dutton on the campaign trail in Perth on Saturday.

Dutton pledges tax cut of up to $1200 for 10 million workers

The Coalition’s rebate will apply for one year at a cost of $10 billion in a play by the party to win the cost-of-living vote on May 3.

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The big three players in the Australian election campaign - Anthony Albanese, Donald Trump and Peter Dutton.

Trump is now the third candidate. That’s good news for the PM

Incumbency, not so long ago deemed a curse in global politics, is suddenly an advantage.

Shadow Energy Spokesman Ted O’Brien debated Energy Minister Chris Bowen at the National Press Club on Thursday.

The Coalition’s secret weapon to win back Chinese voters

A lesser known part of the Coalition’s efforts to make amends with Chinese-Australian voters is Ted O’Brien

Federal Minister for Climate Change & Energy Chris Bowen (left) and Shadow Federal Minister for Climate Change & Energy Ted O’Brien (right) during a Federal Election ministers’ debate at the National Press Club.

Coalition to water down vehicle efficiency scheme

Peter Dutton says a Coalition government would not enforce penalties for a scheme designed to encourage the take-up of electric vehicles.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers

Chalmers, economists slam Coalition’s debt reduction fund

The government and economists argue a Coalition plan to establish a new investment fund to help pay down debt will have the opposite effect. 

There were plenty of questions from the audience of outer-suburban swing voters about the cost of living assistance, but none about how any of it was going to be paid for.

Albanese cruises as budget discipline barely rates with voters

“Cuts” is a dirty word during an election campaign. But its increasing resonance underscores a scant regard for the need to address debt and deficit.

Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.

Taylor pledges two new investment funds to help regions, target debt

Two new investment funds to be seeded by revenue windfalls risk slowing the return to surplus

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

Dutton puts campaign back on track, but time is short

Peter Dutton’s debate performance was solid enough to ease internal jitters over the state of the campaign, but the momentum is still with Labor.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton visited BlueScope Steel in Erskine Park in the division of McMahon.

No extra gas for domestic market under Dutton plan: industry

The sector has changed its criticism of the Coalition’s energy policy from complaining it would create a glut, to arguing it would create a shortfall.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton face off in the first leaders’ debate of the 2025 federal election.

Dutton claims credit for Labor’s two surpluses in robust debate

The opposition leader put in a solid performance in the first election debate, but the audience judged Anthony Albanese as the winner.

Peter Dutton says he will create a gas reservation for the east coast of Australia.

Lib gas plan promises modest savings for households

Modelling underpinning Peter Dutton’s gas plan says household bills would fall 7 per cent, but a big cut in manufacturing costs would flow through the economy.

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Economists don’t believe a recession is near for Australia.

Why economists doubt a recession is coming for Australia

Australian businesses affected by Trump’s tariffs will find new export markets while the economy will be bolstered by rate cuts and a falling currency, analysts say.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Chalmers and Dutton clash over recession claims

Jim Chalmers has accused Peter Dutton of being prepared to trash the economy in a bid to salvage his campaign.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton arrived to a media opportunity in a fuel tanker.

Dutton seizes on tariff chaos to recalibrate campaign

Donald Trump’s tariff chaos is causing both sides to recalibrate their campaign message.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton with  treasury spokesman Angus Taylor (left) and finance spokeswoman Jane Hume at Parliament House.

Dutton’s woman problem was serious long before his WFH policy

The failure to anticipate the backlash is one thing, but it was made even worse by the fact Dutton was already on the nose with women.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his public service spokeswoman Jane Hume.

Work from home fiasco risks pleasing no one

Peter Dutton’s best hope is that voters give him points for admitting he overreached.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/phillip-coorey-hve1e