Dutton to revive the taxpayer-funded long lunch – just don’t order a drink

The Opposition Leader unveils a promise to provide small businesses with a yearly tax deduction for taking clients out to lunch ... but there’s a catch.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton wants to revive the long lunch. Picture: NewsWire/David Geraghty

Peter Dutton has vowed to revive taxpayer-funded business lunches and declared there was “no prospect of a majority Labor government” after the next election, saying any deal struck between Anthony Albanese and the crossbench to hold on to power would be a “monster far worse than anything we saw in 2010”.

The Opposition Leader used his second major speech of the year to ramp up warnings of a minority Labor government, claiming that this would lead to a ban on gas development, higher taxes, higher electricity prices, weaker borders and a downgrading of ­national defence.

Mr Dutton said voters should not believe Mr Albanese’s claim that he would not strike deals with the Greens if Labor failed to win a majority.

“No political expert in the country predicts that after the next election Mr Albanese will be able to form a majority government,” he said.

“The only prospect with Mr Albanese as Prime Minister after the election is if he is in partnership with green-teals or extreme Greens that could hold the balance of power in a Labor minority government.

“That would be a disaster for our nation. We only need to recall the hung parliament of 2010.”

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton arrives at Arana Leagues Club with wife Kirilly on Sunday. Picture Lachie Millard

Despite using a large part of his speech in the inner-Brisbane seat of Ryan to declare the Coalition would focus on combating inflation, Mr Dutton released an uncosted policy aimed at pumping more money into the economy.

The Liberal leader vowed to revive taxpayer-funded business lunches, with a yearly tax deduction of up to $20,000 for taking ­clients out to restaurants, cafes and pubs.

The measure, available to businesses with a turnover of up to $10m, will see entertainment expenses excluded from the fringe benefits tax for two years; alcohol is carved out of the tax break.

Mr Dutton said cafes, restaurants, clubs and pubs were the “lifeblood of so many local economies around the country”.

“Hospitality is a huge part of the economy and yet like so many businesses at the moment, they are hurting under Labor,” he said.

“Skyrocketing electricity, gas and insurance prices. A local coffee shop creates important local jobs, but they are also spending money buying supplies from other local businesses.

“We want other small businesses to spend more at their local cafes, clubs and pubs.

“And if they can take their employees to the venues and pay for a meal as part of a milestone sales event, or acknowledgment for their hard work, then it is a win-win for both businesses.

“It will help retention and provide a reward to employees.”

The Hawke government cracked down on notoriously boozy taxpayer-funded business lunches in 1986 by introducing the fringe benefit tax on restaurant expenses.

Peter Dutton has excluded alcohol from his pre-election policy. Picture: Peter Wallis

Mr Dutton warned that Labor was preparing to “unleash more scare campaigns” and personal ­attacks ahead of the election due in May. “When we speak truths and facts, they will call it ‘misinformation’ or ‘disinformation’ but Australians will see through it,” he said.

Anthony Albanese was on Sunday in the western Sydney seat of Werriwa to commit $500m towards upgrading a road that will connect Liverpool to the Western Sydney International Airport.

The Prime Minister was not convinced of Mr Dutton’s policy to bring back the long lunch.

“This is a guy who opposed energy bill relief, who has opposed all the measures that were put in place for small business,” he said.

“When we do get into an election campaign, there’ll be a serious offering from Labor about building Australia’s future, and further cost-of-living measures.

“And (there’ll be) an opposition just continuing to be negative and say no to everything.”