New generation of young families will swing the next election: Dutton

Liberal leader Peter Dutton says the next federal election will be fought over housing, energy policy, cost of living, industrial relations and migration.

Peter Dutton has identified the “kids of the Howard battlers” as the new electoral battleground for the Liberal Party as he prepares the Coalition for an­ ­aggressive contest with Labor over housing, energy, cost of living and industrial relations.

The Liberal leader also confirmed he had activated the shadow budget razor gang for a major policy push in the new year that would begin to outline the ­Coalition’s economic agenda.

With the Opposition Leader marking 18 months in the job next week – midway through the term – Mr Dutton said the party had identified a new generation of young families he believed would swing the outcome of the next election.

He said they were families with high cost-of-living pressures, mortgage pain and those pushed further out into the suburban rings due to the high cost of housing.

“I think there are a lot of Labor voters, who I describe as the kids of the Howard battlers out in the suburbs, who are now listening to their grandparents and parents about how bad Labor is,” Mr Dutton said.

“And they are seeing it now demonstrated through very bad decision-making.

“I think they are out there, and they are aspirational, they want the best for their family, they are feeling terribly let down by this Labor government and a Prime Minister who they see as more comfortable hobnobbing with the elites rather than workers.

“I think there is real opportunity for us in that regard.

“I think those people are looking for a new home, and we intend to be that come the next election.”

Mr Dutton believed the teal seats were also winnable but ­energy policy would not be the deciding factor, with cost-of-living pressures also a live issue on bellwether inner-city seats. “Only through the economy can we reach back through to those seats,” he said.

With the Labor strategy now centred on a character attack of Mr Dutton and his “negativity”, the Liberal leader this week ­tried to turn the tables by targeting ­Anthony Albanese and signalling a new and more aggressive ­approach to the political contest.

The Coalition primary vote remains weak, however, and Labor is still in a winning position. But Mr Dutton’s own personal numbers have improved in the past two months, with net approval rating now only slightly below that of the Prime Minister’s.

“I knew if we can remain a united team and we weren’t constantly talking about ourselves, and people weren’t positioning themselves and undermining the cause, we would be in a position to put pressure on the government,” the Opposition Leader said.

“(But) if we are to be re-elected we have to present our own agenda; it won’t be just a case of people voting out a bad government, they will need a reason to vote us in. I intend to give them every reason to do that.”

On migration and its effect on the housing crisis, Mr Dutton said: “I think there is definitely a debate coming on that.

“I don’t think the supply issue can be addressed as quickly as what people think, it’s not just a local government or planning issue.

“The other important thing we have done, which won’t be evident yet, is important policy work and re-engagement with stakeholders. We’ve also initiated the shadow expenditure review committee and that has supplied a discipline to ministers to be across their briefs and policy formulation.”

Mr Dutton rejects Labor’s claim that his opposition to the voice has only reinforced the negative stereotype. “It’s the complete opposite,” he said. “The Prime Minister had decided Australians couldn’t trusted with the detail and it was in his political interests not to provide detail. It was a catastrophic failure.

“He has really damaged himself and the government by not trusting Australians people. It was dishonest. The voice also ­allowed the public to consider me in a different light than they had as defence minister or home affairs or leader of the house, the hard man for different prime ministers.

“I think it’s allowed people to see me in a more positive light than the way Labor seek to portray me.”