‘Australians deserve better’: Dutton rallies party for election

Peter Dutton says Australia has been suffering from a ‘lack of vision from its leaders’, and has called on his party to unite in order to win the next federal election.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton addresses the Liberal Party State Council at Moonee Valley Racecourse. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Peter Dutton says Australia has been suffering from a “lack of vision from its leaders”, and has called on his party to unite and work harder in order to win the next federal election.

“Australians are not being offered a vision from their current Prime Minister, he mistakes platitudes for vision” the Opposition Leader said, speaking at the Victorian Liberal Party’s State Council meeting at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday morning.

“Australians want and deserve something better.

“They’re suffering from Labor’s cost of living crisis, they’re alarmed by the crime in our streets and the breakdown of social cohesion across society.”

Mr Dutton said the Prime Minister had turned a “blind eye” to criminal conduct within the CFMEU, which he said had been costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

“There is a direct correlation here between the CFMEU activities and the impact that people are feeling in the building sector,” he said.

Mr Dutton, who was seated next to Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto, also used his address to call out the Victorian government over its large debt and pursuit of its Suburban Rail Loop, which is predicted to cost more than $200 billion.

“By 2028 Victoria’s debt will reach a shocking $188 billion dollars, a 750 per cent increase since it came to power 10 years ago” he said.

“Victoria’s debt is now more than that of New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania combined, interest repayments on this debt now are more than $25m a day”.

Mr Dutton said his party’s policies were “patriotic” rather than “political”.

“The Coalition will go to the next election as a patriotic party with a patriotic vision for patriotic Australians,” he said.

“Families will be much, much worse off over the course of the second term of the Albanese government.

“The problems will compound and I believe we have an obligation to be united, to work harder than we’ve ever worked before.”

Mr Dutton received a standing ovation from attendees at the state council, which re-elected Philip Davis as president.

Victorian opposition leader, John Pesutto, is scheduled to address attendees on Sunday.

Mr Dutton said political vision in Australia had “fallen victim to many things”, including “political short-termism,” “small-target strategies” and “pandering to identity politics,” which he said had “undermined national unity.”

Mr Dutton used his address to outline his vision for Australia, including for the country to be “energy self-sufficient” with nuclear power part of the energy mix, and for more Australians to be able to afford home ownership.

“I want Australia to be a place where law and order prevails in our communities and on our streets,” he said.

“I want Australia to have a well managed migration program with sustainable levels of migration.

“A country where we reinstate critical thinking and eradicate the indoctrination from our classrooms.”

Mr Dutton said he wanted Australia to be “a country where we foster a love of country and not a sense of perpetual national guilt.”

“I want Australia to be a nation of united people,” he said.