Revealed: Albanese and Dutton’s big pledges for roads, small business

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are going full steam ahead despite no election date being set. Here is what the leaders are offering.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are pushing ahead with their unofficial campaigns, with both leaders will on Sunday announce vote-winning commitments before the election date is even set.

The Prime Minister will spend Sunday in Western Sydney, splashing major cash on a crucial road connecting Western Sydney to the region’s new airport while Mr Dutton will rally party faithful in Brisbane by allowing small businesses to wine and dine their clients and employees tax-free.

Mr Albanese and NSW’s Labor Premier Chris Minns have gone halves on a billion dollar funding injection – not an election promise – for Fifteenth Avenue in Liverpool.

The congested two-lane road is critical to the Western Sydney International Airport with the Daily Telegraph previously revealing there were major concerns congested roads would sabotage the government’s plans for rapid buses to the airport.

There have been major concerns congested roads could sabotage the government’s plans for rapid buses to the Western Sydney International Airport. Picture: Linda Higginson

In February, Kellyville MP Ray Williams raised concerns that Western Sydney residents would spend hours on buses stuck in traffic because of the state of existing roads leading to the airport.

“We want it to thrive as the engine room for jobs, economic growth and opportunity,” Mr Albanese said of the commitment

Mr Albanese and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King have been on an announcement blitz, with the pair making housing and community infrastructure commitments in Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia earlier this month.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader took his fight to inner city Brisbane, promising a Coalition government would give small businesses a capped $20,000 tax deduction for business-related meals and entertainment expenses.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton are going full steam ahead with the election due in May.

The Liberals are eyeing to take backs seats like Brisbane and Ryan that were lost to the Greens at the last election.

Businesses with a turnover of up to $10m will be eligible to claims food and entertainment expenses connected to their work and income – including wining and dining clients, vendors and employees. Their policy would run for two years initially and be exempt from the Fringe Benefits Tax.

The Coalition is using record-breaking small business insolvencies to argue more needs to be done to support the industry.

“Hospitality is a huge part of the economy and yet, like so many businesses at the moment, they are hurting under Labor,” Mr Dutton said.

“Millions of Australians will have worked their first job waiting on tables, pulling a beer or making coffees at a local cafe.

“We want other small businesses to spend more at their local cafes, clubs and pubs, and if they can take their employees to the venues and pay for a meal as part of a milestone sales event, or acknowledgement for their hard work, then it is a win-win for both businesses.”

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