Opposition Leader Peter Dutton confirms super for housing policy will be expanded to separated women

Peter Dutton has made a major election pitch to voters, staking the Coalition’s return to government on housing, migration and economy.

Peter Dutton has outlined housing, migration and the economy as key election battleground topics the Coalition will pursue in the lead up to this year’s federal election.

The Opposition Leader said Australia had become a more anxious, pessimistic and dispirited country under Labor, in his first major address on 2025.

The event was help in the Liberal’s must-win East Melbourne seat of Chisholm, which the party lost to Labor’s Carina Garland in 2022.

Mr Dutton said “restoring the dream of home ownership” would be a tent pole of the Coalition’s bid to return to government, spruiking their policy to allow first homebuyers access to up to $50,000 of their super to buy a home.

He confirmed this would be extended to separated women as well, after Liberal MPs pushed for the policy, arguing it would allow older women to avoid relying on the rental market, and reduce rates rising rates of homelessness in women over 55.

“Entering the property market shouldn’t be limited to those who can rely on the bank of mum and dad,” he said in the major pitch to voters.

“That’s why a Coalition Government will allow Australians to access up to $50,000 of their super to buy their first home. And we will extend that policy to assist separated women.”

Peter Dutton confirmed the Coalition’s super-for-housing policy will be expanded to separated women. Picture: NewsWire/ John Gass

While Mr Dutton flagged reducing migration as another key policy area, he didn’t commit to a net migration target, and instead flagged a top-focused four-year program to reduce permanent migration.

“We will reduce the permanent migration program by 25 per cent for two years – from 185,000 to 140,000 places,” he said.

“In years three and four, we will return to a sustainable 150,000 and 160,000 places.”

In comparison, Labor has unsuccessfully aimed to slash net overseas migration to 260,000 in the 2024-25 financial year, however

In contrast, Labor aimed to slash net overseas migration 340,000 in the 2024-25 financial year, after it was forced to increase its original forecasts by 80,000 due to low departure figures.

Although declining to commit to a figure, Mr Dutton also renewed his promise to implement “stricter caps on foreign students,” after the Coalition torpedoed Labor’s Bill to limit 2025 enrolments to 270,000 new commencements.

Mr Dutton said the Coalition would implement stricter caps on international students, but would not commit to a figure. Picture: NewsWire/ Bianca De Marchi

Mr Dutton also flagged wide-ranging Indigenous policy commitments, including a return of the controversial Cashless Debit Card, which was scrapped by Labor.

He said the Coalition would reintroduce the system in for working-aged welfare recipient in “Indigenous communities where drugs and alcohol are prevalent”.

He said this would be done in “consultation with communities,” in order to ensure children were “getting the support from their parents that they deserve”.

“Labor has lost its energy to address this issue. But with the defeat of the Voice, we have an opportunity to move away from symbolic gestures, activist-driven agendas, and more Canberra-based bureaucracy,” he said.

“We can press ahead with a Dutton Coalition Government’s priority to focus on practical action for Indigenous Australians.

“As Jacinta Price said, it’s time to dispense with the racial stereotyping which treats all Aboriginal people the same.”

A returned Coalition government would also begin a full audit into spending on Indigenous programs, and committed to a Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse in Indigenous Communities.

Dutton reiterates key line: Australia ‘can’t afford’ another Labor term

Apart from the policy commitments, Mr Dutton’s speech doubled down on the Coalition’s key message, stating that Australians could not afford another three years of a Labor government.

“I think the past three years are a good indication of what the future will look like under a returned Labor Government,” he said.

“That’s a future Australians can’t afford … And the next federal election is a sliding doors moment for our nation.”

He also argued that only a government led by him could reverse Australia’s decline and appeal to “compassionate, stoic, fair and quietly patriotic” voters to return the Coalition to power.

His appeal to “quietly patriotic” Australians was also reminiscent of his predecessor’s, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, 2019 shock win which he famously said belonged to the “Quiet Australians”.

So too does it echo Howard’s Battlers and Menzies’ forgotten people.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made a series of appearances across three states and territories this week, including the Northern Territory. Picture: PMO

Mr Dutton also described Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has visited three states and territories this week in a pre-election blitz, as one of the country’s “weakest ever” prime ministers.

“Australians have endured one of the most incompetent governments in our nation’s history,” he said.

“As a result, Australians are worse off. Our country is less safe. Our society is less cohesive.

“For so many Australians, aspiration has been replaced by anxiety. Optimism has turned to pessimism. And national confidence changed to dispiritedness.

“I hope Australians will recognise that a Coalition Government is the only chance to get our country back on track.”

Senior Libs praise Dutton

Prior to Mr Dutton’s address, Ms Ley described Mr Dutton as a “leader who cares”.

“A leader who understands exactly how we can get this country back on track,” she told party faithfuls.

Mr Littleproud said Victoria has had a “loss of self confidence and the loss of self assurance” as result of the Labor government.

He also lashed Labor’s renewable energy approach, labelling it as “economic madness”. Instead he said the Coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear reactors by 2050 would leave a lasting legacy.

“We are going to leave a legacy for this country that doesn’t last for six years or the life of a solar panel but for 80 years,” he claimed.

Prior to Mr Dutton’s entrance, the Liberal candidate for Chisholm Katie Allen said Labor had “taken advantage” of the electorate.

“Labor’s hold on Chisholm is fragile and for good reason,” she said.

“Chisholm is ground zero in the fight to get Australia back on track.”

Coalition MPs including Jane Hume, Bridget McKenzie, James Paterson, Sarah Henderson, Perin Davey and Michael Sukkar were also seen at the event.

Protesters have vowed to disrupt Peter Dutton’s first major campaign rally, which will be attended by Nationals Leader David Littleproud and Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Anti-nuclear activists crash key Dutton rally

Prior to the rally, climate protesters vowed to disrupt the event in opposition to the Coalition’s bid for nuclear power and demanding more action on climate change.

About 30 local community members and organisers from Solutions for Climate Australia gathered outside the Mount Waverley venue on Sunday, calling on Mr Dutton to release a “credible climate policy” ahead of this year’s federal election.

Attendees were seen chanting, and holding anti-nuclear placards outside the Mount Waverley Youth Centre, alongside a large inflatable of a three-eyed fish.

Protesters from Solutions for Climate Australia were seen outside the rally location. Picture: NewsWire/ Ryan Bourke

There were about 30 attendees in total. Picture: NewsWire/ Ryan Bourke

Senior campaigner Leigh Ewbank said attendees have prepped hundreds of flyers, which they will distribute to attendees.

He said the community Melbourne’s east, where the Coalition is chasing key Labor-held seats like Chisholm, is strongly opposed nuclear and support a renewables rollout.

“Strong action on climate was endorsed by Australians at the last election and is demonstrated by the strong uptake of rooftop solar in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs,” he said.

“We urge Mr Dutton to respect the preferences of the electorate and the aspirations of our community.”

Mr Ewbank also stoked community support for rooftop solar and battery storage, stating it was a solution which “tackled climate change and the cost-of-living crisis”.

“Building nuclear reactors across the country does nothing to help on that front,” he said.

The group is an offshoot of advocacy body Climate Action Network Australia, and according to its website, it is an “independent, nonpartisan and philanthropically funded” organisation.

Local resident Belinda Hayden said she and other protesters were there to show that they Peter Dutton's nuclear policy had “no support here”

“We need more focus on renewable energy like solar panels in this area. We’ve already seen the success of it in the eastern suburbs where we have seen high uptake,” she said.

Originally published as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton confirms super for housing policy will be expanded to separated women