Albanese and Dutton are like Whitlam and Fraser. That’s a disaster

On any reasonable economic assessment, Labor barely deserves a chance to be re-elected – but the Coalition’s offering may even be worse.

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese are turning into Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser. Rachael Bolton

John KehoeEconomics editor

Apr 17, 2025 – 5.00am

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Anthony Albanese is arguably presiding over the worst economic policies for a Labor government since Gough Whitlam’s disasters in the 1970s.

In fact, Albanese is channelling Whitlam with his anti-productivity agenda of big spending, pro-unions, taxpayer subsidies for green interests and manufacturing, and constant promises of “free” stuff for voters.

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John KehoeEconomics editorJohn Kehoe is economics editor at Parliament House, Canberra. He writes on economics, politics and business. John was Washington correspondent covering Donald Trump’s first election. He joined the Financial Review in 2008 from Treasury.