Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has outlined his plan to win back Victoria by ramping up gas production to make energy more affordable and reliable, while also firing a shot at top universities for becoming over-reliant on foreign students.

During a wide-ranging speech in which he spruiked the safety credentials of nuclear small modular reactors, attacked former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and the Suburban Rail Loop, and claimed that teal MPs are Greens in disguise, Mr Dutton on Friday told a Melbourne business lunch the Liberals were “back in town”.