Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton says Labor are soft on crime and cost of living
Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton has written to Gold Coast residents, targeting Labor for being soft on crime and failing to control cost of living.
Council
Don't miss out on the headlines from Council. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton has written to Gold Coast residents, targeting Labor for being soft on crime and failing to control cost of living.
Mr Dutton has sent a letter out to all northern Coast residents in the Fadden electorate which flags the LNP’s campaign in the federal by-election following the retirement of its MP Stuart Robert.
“As a Queenslander, I know how special the Gold Coast is,” Mr Dutton wrote.
“However, this community is facing a number of challenges, including rising living costs.”
He said Australia’s inflation rate was higher than almost every other advanced economy.
“Before the election, Labor promised to reduce power bills by $275. However, their recent budget shows electricity bills are forecast to increase by 32 per cent.”
Mr Dutton also aimed his pitch at retirees in the electorate, saying there would be higher taxes on superannuation under Labor.
But this major message was on crime, saying he agreed with Queensland Opposition leader and Broadwater MP David Crisafulli about Labor being soft on offenders.
“On the Gold Coast there is a crime problem. As a former police officer, I know more needs to be done,” he wrote.
He said the by election on July 15 was a chance for residents to “send Labor a message” on crime and rising living costs.
Mr Dutton said the LNP had preselected an “experienced local candidate who will stand up for the community” after Gold Coast City councillor Cameron Caldwell won the nod at the weekend.
Mr Caldwell was absent from council committee meetings earlier this week but expected to chair Thursday’s important planning meeting.
McPherson MP and former Cabinet Minister Karen Andrews in an interview before the preselection on Saturday viewed it as a missed opportunity because only five candidates put their hand up.
Fran Ward was the only woman to nominate and Mr Caldwell’s preselection is regarded by some in the party as another failed chance to increase the number of women in parliament.
The LNP in Queensland has just three women in the 20 federal lower house seats. The Senate has 11 among 26 Senators providing more gender balance.
Ms Andrews who is retiring at the next poll hopes for a bigger field of candidates in McPherson.
Earlier this week Labor put the blowtorch on the LNP and Mr Caldwell, saying anything less than a 3.5 per cent gain in the vote by the Liberals would be failure in Fadden.
Gold Coast-based Labor Senator Murray Watt, in a shock prediction, expects the LNP’s vote in the safe northern Coast federal seat will return to similar margins recorded before the 2022 poll.
He said Fadden was different to the recent Aston by-election in Victoria where Labor gained a 6.4 per cent swing in the marginal Liberal seat – the first government win at a by-election since 1920.
More Coverage
Bemused MP’s slapdown for council on parking fines
A Gold Coast MP has questioned why council is writing to the state to get parking rules relaxed – claiming legislation not only allows them to do so, but councils including Logan already take advantage. Watch the video of how Logan do it.
‘Shoe print on his head’: Family of teen bashing victim speak out
An evening walk to grab an ice cream took a shocking turn for a couple of Gold Coast teens, allegedly brutally bashed in a gang attack and left with shocking injuries. Now their parents have revealed the devastating toll.