Anthony Albanese a greater threat to Queensland than Bill Shorten, Peter Dutton says

Peter Dutton says the Queensland people should be more concerned about the current Labor leader than any of his predecessors.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese is a greater threat to the Coalition in Queensland than former leader Bill Shorten, Peter Dutton says. Picture: Kym Smith

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, one of the Coalition’s chief attack dogs, has declared Anthony Albanese is a “bigger threat” than Bill Shorten, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard to the people of Queensland.

The admission comes as the Opposition Leader used his second “vision statement” delivered in Brisbane to reject Mr Shorten’s tax-and-spend agenda and outline a productivity project to boost the economy.

Mr Dutton labelled Mr Albanese a “tax-and-spend guy” and said voters should not believe what he says in opposition.

“Anthony Albanese is a bigger threat than Bill Shorten and a bigger threat frankly than even Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard (in Queensland). Every Labor leader says they aren’t going to tax-and-spend but they didn’t always say it when they’re in opposition. When they get into government they tax-and-spend,” Mr Dutton said.

READ MORE: Difference between Albanese and Shorten | Unpopular Shorten, taxes doomed Labor | ALP draws level as drought hits hard | Labor’s long look into a dark future

Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard didn’t pose the threat in Queensland that Anthony Albanese does, according to Peter Dutton. Picture: AFP

“Mr Albanese is no different than what Kevin Rudd was, what Julia Gillard or Bill Shorten or every leader of the opposition in the Labor Party always promises to cut tax and to act responsibly when it comes to economic management and when they get into government they wreck the budget.”

Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton says Anthony Albanese is a ‘tax-and-spend’ guy. Picture: AAP

‘Australians aren’t quiet’

The attack against Mr Albanese followed the Opposition Leader hitting back at Scott Morrison’s reference to “quiet Australians”.

The Prime Minister credited quiet Australians for his election win and has used the phrase regularly since polling day on May 18.

“Australians aren’t very quiet, the ones that I meet,” Mr Albanese told ABC radio.

“They want to talk about issues and about the future of the country. They’re concerned about the fact that their wages aren’t increasing. They are concerned about the costs of childcare, about the cost of electricity. They’re concerned also about the future work. I think that parents worry about, I’ve got an 18-year-old son, they worry about what work will look like.”

His deputy leader Richard Marles said Labor had made it clear the party was “starting again” on its policy agenda ahead of the next election, due in 2022.

Labor’s post-mortem review of its election loss cited too many policies and constant flow of announcements during the campaign as problematic, while controversial policies on a franking credits crackdown and negative gearing exposed the party to a Coalition attack.

“We are making absolutely clear, as Anthony will today in his speech in relation to the economy, that we are focused on middle Australia,” Mr Marles told Nine’s Today Show.

“We are focused on aspiration and we are focused on an economy that works for all Australians. That’s where our emphasis is going to be.”

While wealthier Australians voted for Labor, those on lower incomes were frightened by key aspects of the ALP’s platform.

“People who are less well-off are more acutely conscious of how the economy is going than most. In a sense they are the people that we want to see voting Labor,” Mr Marles said.

“We will be very focused on being a safe pair of hands when it comes to the economy and seeking that licence from the Australian people and that will be the emphasis of Anthony’s speech today.”