Dutton pledges to repair Australia’s ties with Israel

Peter Dutton will make calling Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu one of his first priorities if he wins this year’s federal election, as he launches his broad pre-poll vision for the nation.

Peter Dutton is warning Australia may never recover if Labor is re-elected at this year’s federal election.

Peter Dutton will make calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu one of his first priorities if he wins this year’s federal election, as he launched his broad pre-poll vision for the nation on Sunday.

Flanked by his senior team in the target Melbourne seat of Chisholm, the Opposition Leader declared the Albanese government was “worse than Whitlam” and warned the nation will never recover if Anthony Albanese is re-elected.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton holds a campaign-style rally in the Labor-held seat of Chisholm at Mount Waverley Youth Centre in Melbourne. Picture: NewsWire/Valeriu Campan

And as he set out priorities on tax, migration and education, Mr Dutton said he would move personally to repair the nation’s relationship with Israel.

“Every incident of anti-Semitism can be traced back to the Prime Minister’s dereliction of leadership in response to the sordid events on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. Anti-Semitism should have been stopped there and then,” Mr Dutton said in Glen Waverley

“This government is so morally confused it treats our ally, Israel, like an adversary.

“And in the first days of a Coalition government, I will call the Prime Minister of Israel to mend the relationship that Labor has trashed.”

The Albanese government is currently planning to send Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to Israel soon to mend relations, after Mr Netanyahu attacked Labor’s handling of the domestic anti-Semitism crisis and blasted the government’s recent pro-Palestine votes at the United Nations.

Activists crash Dutton rally

Union officials were among anti-nuclear activists who have turned Mr Dutton’s rally.

Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari confirmed unions were partly behind the protest, which included an inflatable three-eyed fish in a warning against nuclear.

Anti-nuclear protesters

There was also a separate anti-nuclear campaign out the front of the community centre in Mt Waverley, with members saying they are a grassroots group from the electorate of Chisholm opposing the Coalition’s energy plans.

Anti-nuclear protesters at Peter Dutton's rally.

Inside the town hall were Liberal Party members who heard speeches from Mr Dutton, Nationals leader David Littleproud and deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley.

Election ‘a sliding doors moment’

Mr Dutton said the election of a Coalition government this year would be the “last chance” to reverse the economic and social decline of Australia, as he began his campaigning in 2025.

Mr Dutton called the upcoming election “a sliding doors moment for our nation”, as he attempted to cut through to apathetic voters who are considering giving the Prime Minister one more chance to govern.

He vowed to govern with the “views, values and vision of everyday Australians”, preparing to frame Mr Albanese as being more interested in delivering for a progressive base that is out of touch with the concerns of most voters.

Declaring a Coalition government is the “only chance to get our country back on track”, Mr Dutton claimed the character of Australia was changing under Labor.

“Weak leaders create hard times, but strong leaders create better times,” Mr Dutton said on Sunday.

“And the next federal election is a sliding doors moment for our nation.

“A returned Labor government – in majority or minority – will see setbacks set in stone.

“A newly elected Coalition government is a last chance to reverse the decline.”

Peter Dutton’s pitch has similarities with Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ slogan. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt

He said Australia had become less safe and cohesive since Mr Albanese became prime minister.

“We’re a remarkable people – compassionate, stoic, fair and quietly patriotic,” Mr Dutton said.

“But under this Albanese Labor government, I’ve seen the mood of Australians change.

“Australians have endured one of the most incompetent governments in our nation’s history.

“They’ve suffered under one of our country’s weakest ever prime ministers.

“For so many Australians, aspiration has been replaced by anxiety. Optimism has turned to pessimism.

“And national confidence changed to dispiritedness.”

Mr Dutton’s pitch has similarities with Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, which was aimed at voters who believed their nation fared better in previous eras and that mainstream values were not being prioritised.

While Mr Albanese opened up his 2025 campaigning in regional Queensland seats he won’t win with a whole-of-nation message, Mr Dutton is launching straight into marginal seats in Victoria, a state where the Coalition is aiming to make inroads.

As well as Chisholm, the Liberals are optimistic of winning Aston and McEwen from Labor.

Party figures are also confident of winning the seat of Goldstein from teal independent Zoe Daniel, while strategists believe they are an outside chance of picking up Dunkley, Corangamite and Kooyong.

The Coalition won just 11 out of 39 seats in Victoria at the last election, which has favoured Labor over the past decade.

But the Liberals argue the Labor brand in the state is on the nose due to the cost-of-living crisis and the growing anger towards the state government.

Peter Dutton has warned the nation may never recover if Anthony Albanese is re-elected. Picture: Getty Images

Newspoll last month showed the two-party preferred vote in Victoria was 50-50, representing a nearly 5 per cent swing towards the Coalition since the 2022 election.

In his speech, Mr Dutton argued Mr Albanese was more focused on a “political victory” than good outcomes for Australians.

“Whereas I want our country to be victorious. I want Australia to emerge out of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis,” he said.

“I want future generations of Australians to not be denied the prosperity that previous generations of Australians knew.

“The path to better times and a better country starts with having the right priorities.

“With the right priorities, you create the right policies. And with the right policies, things go right for the Australian people.

“I hope Australians will recognise that a Coalition government is the only chance to get our country back on track.”