Peter Dutton holds first campaign rally ahead of upcoming election

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has taken aim at the Prime Minister’s economic record as he outlined his election priorities at a campaign rally in Melbourne.

Peter Dutton has stuck the boot into Anthony Albanese over the economy, accusing his government of being a “wrecking ball”, as he unveiled the Coalition’s 12-point election plan to get the country “back on track”.

The Opposition Leader, who held his first campaign rally of the year in Melbourne on Sunday, lashed Labor for failing to rein in spending that has kept interest rates and inflation “higher for longer” and declared they are “worse than Whitlam”.

Mr Dutton condemned Labor for “acting like an opposition in government” and failing to curb the shocking anti-Semitism crisis.

He also laid the ground for an election battle over power bills, migration, super for housing, national security and healthcare – staring down Labor’s latest “Mediscare” campaign about his time as health minister by highlighting that bulk billing was “84 per cent under me compared to 77 per cent today”.

“In less than three years, Labor has been a wrecking ball through the economy,” Mr Dutton said.

“A newly elected Coalition Government is a last chance to reverse the decline.

“I want Australia to emerge out of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.”

Opposition leader Peter Dutton holds a campaign-style rally in the Labor-held seat of Chisholm. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Under the Coalition’s plan to build a stronger economy, the Coalition will slash wasteful spending, fight cost of living pressures, lower taxes, cut red and green tape.

It will also leverage the landmark AUKUS deal, attract new investment through infrastructure, resources and agricultural projects, deliver more gas and cheaper energy through its nuclear power plan, and support small business by reversing Labor’s contentious industrial relations reforms.

Other top priorities include more support for rural and regional areas, practical action for Indigenous Australians, and investing in communities.

Mr Dutton declared the Coalition had fought back against the rise in anti-Semitism, claiming “every incident” including the arson attack at the Adass Israel Synagogue could “be traced back to the Prime Minister’s dereliction of leadership in response to the sordid events on the steps of the Sydney Opera House”.

“This government is so morally confused it treats our ally, Israel, like an adversary,” he said.

“In the first days of a Coalition Government, I will call the Prime Minister of Israel to mend the relationship that Labor has trashed.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has faced criticism from Mr Dutton for failing to rein in spending. Picture: Getty

Mr Dutton vowed to govern with respect for the views, values and vision of all Australians, claiming Labor prioritised the agendas of “inner-city Greens voters, activists, and union bosses” and disregarded families and small businesses.

He said the Coalition would be announcing more policies in the days and weeks ahead of the election, which must be held by May 17.

His speech at the Mount Waverley Youth Community Centre was met with a standing ovation.

Nationals leader David Littleproud said the plan was about “getting back to basics” and not solving the nation’s problems by continually spending the nation’s money.

Outside the rally, local climate activists called for greater investment in renewables as they protested against the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan.

Senior Labor minister Catherine King accused Mr Dutton of having “no plan to ease the cost of living” and said Labor would “hunt him down” on his record as health minister.

Catherine King says Mr Dutton has no plan to ease the cost of living. Picture Lachie Millard

Meanwhile, Redbridge Group polling director Kos Samaras says the election would be won in NSW and Victoria.

Mr Samaras said the NSW electorates of Robertson, Gilmore, Patterson and Hunter, and Sydney seats of Macarthur, Bennelong and Reid were “all in play”.

While in Victoria, he pointed to Corangamite, Dunkley, Aston, McEwen, Hawke, Holt and Isaacs.

Originally published as Peter Dutton holds first campaign rally ahead of upcoming election