‘The leaking has to stop’: Dutton warns dissent will cost seats

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has defended Angus Taylor, his chief economic salesman, against public and internal criticism of the opposition’s economic performance ahead of a cut-throat budget-in-reply speech, warning pre-election leaking against the party could cost an election win.

Dutton’s defence in a party room meeting on Tuesday was delivered in a more mild tone than Nationals counterpart David Littleproud, who spent several minutes giving a full-throated defence of Taylor.

Peter Dutton and Nationals Leader David Littleproud with Angus Taylor.Credit: James Brickwood

“David was very strong – he said ‘the undermining needs to stop, the leaking has to stop’,” one MP said, noting some cheers for Taylor in the meeting.

The Coalition has been under pressure to announce detailed policies lately and a series of stories in this masthead and other outlets such as The Australian have revealed a level of internal angst about the party’s economic messaging and policy offering.

A significant portion of the frustration is directed towards Taylor, whose performance in an ABC Insiders interview added weight to the concern of MPs who are seeking details on the party’s positions on tax, migration and short-term power price relief.

Dutton addressed his troops at a party room meeting on Tuesday morning, in which he backed the work of Taylor and finance spokeswoman Jane Hume for helping the Coalition get into a competitive position after a 2022 election drubbing. The Coalition holds a 17 per cent lead on economic management in the latest Resolve Political Monitor.

Several MPs at the meeting, not authorised to speak about it publicly, said Dutton warned internal dissent could cost a few seats in an election and cut the chances of an election win.

He also claimed the criticism of Taylor, which is not shared across the whole party, was driven by NSW intra-party feuding, in what was viewed as a shot across the bows of MPs aligned with the NSW moderates and centre-right.

“It was a clear message to leave Angus alone,” one MP said.

Dutton’s defence mirrors his remarks in June when he said Taylor was “not incompetent” after centre-right faction frontbencher Hollie Hughes, who was dumped in preselection, launched an extraordinary attack on his economic credentials in an interview with this masthead.

All eyes will be on Dutton as he delivers his reply to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ budget. Dutton, who has lost some support in recent weeks but remains neck-and-neck with Labor in polling, has promised a “big announcement”.

Coalition MPs last week said they wanted to see an opposition policy on gas and more immediate policies to put downward pressure on power bills.

Dutton is considering announcing the Coalition’s gas reservation policy for prospective, offshore gas projects to get more gas out of the ground soon and bring down energy bills.

The opposition is also weighing up new policies on immigration and housing, all of which is being tested in nightly focus groups this week to determine which policies are most popular.

There has been speculation Anthony Albanese might call the election as early as Friday morning for May 3 or 10.

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