Peter Dutton visits Tas to show support for local agriculture
During a visit to Tasmania, Peter Dutton tackled key policies the Liberals are backing at the federal election while answering a question on being compared to US President Donald Trump.
Tasmania
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After young Tasmanian women compared him to Donald Trump, Peter Dutton was asked how he was going to change their opinion while visiting the Apple Isle — replying he’d make it “easier to fill their car up”.
The opposition leader was greeted by cheers at a Liberal Party campaign rally at Tasmanian Berries farm in Exton on Sunday, speaking about Tasmania’s future with a Liberal Government, focusing on areas like agriculture.
Mr Dutton said along with $80 million for the Bass Highway duplication, the Libs would commit $40 million to establish a new program to foster expanded timber manufacturing in Australia.
“We want to make sure that we can upgrade roads. We want to make sure that we can invest into the forestry industry. Want to make sure that we’re continuing to support the salmon industry, which Labor is walking away from,” he said.
Previously, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the Labor government would support the Tasmanian salmon industry, which was backed by the federal parliament passing legislation to secure fish farming at Macquarie Harbour.
Mr Dutton was asked his thoughts around how young Tasmanian women feel he is “Trump-like”.
His immediate response was making it easier for them to “fill their car up”.
Mr Dutton said to change minds of young female voters, he would “make communities safer”, as well as focus on cost-of-living issues.
He said there was a “real focus” on reducing domestic violence when he was a minister and wanted to improve health services like the Headspace network investment of $400 million.
“I want to make sure that we have a vibrant economy, so that young women and young men can find jobs readily in the economy,” he said.
“I want an economy where young people can dream about owning a home again and achieve that dream, and realise that dream.”
A key concern has come from Mr Dutton’s announcement on cutting spending, which would lead to job losses in the Australian Public Service.
Mr Dutton outright said there would be no job losses in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Labor Party called for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to stand up to Peter Dutton’s plan to sack more than 950 Tasmanians as part of his assault on the Australian public sector workforce.
A government spokesperson said this was a “scare campaign” from Tasmanian Labor.
“We welcome comments today from the Federal Liberal Opposition leader, Peter Dutton, confirming there will be no Federal public sector job cuts in Tasmania,” the spokesperson said.
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