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LNP must recall economic spirit

If Peter Dutton and the Coalition want to be taken seriously in their claim to be the better economic managers to deal with inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, they must do more to get state party leaders to show it. By sticking to a small-target strategy, Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli is squandering what will be much-needed flexibility if, as expected, he is successful in the upcoming state election.

For Mr Crisafulli, it seems there is no state Labor extravagance he is not prepared to embrace for fear of spooking voters before election day. The malaise is shared across the nation, with the Victorian Liberals unable to convince voters they deserve to take back the Treasury benches despite the woeful condition to which Labor has driven the state’s finances. As Nick Cater wrote on Monday, we are reaping the rewards of growing economic illiteracy after decades of growth, in which a functioning economy appeared to be part of our national inheritance. The sweat and tears of the 1980s and ’90s have largely been forgotten. Winding back the clock on industrial relations is proof of this fact.

It is the job of the opposition to remind voters that big-spending government comes at long-term cost to the economy and all taxpayers. As the latest Newspoll results show, voters are awake to the Albanese government’s economic failings and prepared to look to the Coalition federally as an alternative. On this, Mr Dutton has a good story to tell given the example set in the Howard-Costello years, but he must be brave enough to seize the initiative. State conservative leaders must get the message as well, starting with Mr Crisafulli.

Read related topics:Peter Dutton

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/editorials/lnp-must-recall-economic-spirit/news-story/03a42a32ea4ffe4e6a0ed995395a7e1e