Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has ruled out a pre-election bidding war with Labor on temporary handouts to reduce cost-of-living pressures, outlining an election-year pitch to middle Australia by promising to end wasteful spending, ramp up gas production and embrace a hardline on community safety and security.

Throughout a 40-minute speech marking his return to work ahead of an election due by May 17, Mr Dutton repeatedly drew a stark contrast between himself and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a bid to condemn Labor to become the first one-term government since the 1930s.