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PM attacks ‘heartless’ Dutton in campaign shadow boxing

Source: AAP

Struggling Australians need leadership with heart, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, as both major parties kick off their unofficial election campaigns.

With voters hitting the polls in a matter of months, the Liberals have pledged to get the nation “back on track” while Labor promises to “build Australia’s future”.

But Opposition Leader Peter Dutton lashed the government’s campaign mantra, pointing to its handling of the economy and inflation.

“The cost of power has gone up, the cost of food, the cost of insurance, people’s mortgages have gone up on 12 occasions under this government – and there’s no blue sky ahead,” he said in Melbourne on Monday.

“The Prime Minister is talking about the next election and what the next term will look like, I don’t know what this election and this term of parliament has been about.

“These are lost years for our country.”

Dutton criticised Labor’s energy bill subsidy, branding it a “sugar hit”. He said while people appreciated the support, it had kept interest rates higher for longer.

Dutton, who voted against the $300 energy rebate, remained coy about what his party would offer voters at the federal election due by late May.

Albanese highlighted his government’s achievements in housing and the re-establishment of the China-Australia trade relationship, and said Dutton’s refusal to support energy bill relief indicated his leadership style.

“Peter Dutton represents a cold-hearted, mean-spirited and sometimes plain nasty response – and that’s not going to help people,” he told ABC Radio.

“We do need leadership in this country, but we need leadership with heart.”

After a week on the road across Western Australia, northern Queensland and the Northern Territory, Albanese convened his first cabinet meeting of 2025 in Canberra on Monday.

During his opening remarks, he drew contrasts between his government and the Coalition, claiming Dutton wanted to “take Australia backwards” and shift the opposition further to the right.

“Today, we get down to work building further on our agenda and putting forward a positive, optimistic vision for Australia: One that unites Australia, not one that seeks to divide, one that seeks to bring people together, not looks for a political opportunity at every single occasion,” he said.

In the federal electorate of Aston in Melbourne’s east, meanwhile, Dutton announced $7.5 million for Crime Stoppers, after launching the Coalition’s unofficial campaign for the adjacent seat of Chisholm at the weekend.

Victoria is seen as vital for his bid to land Australia’s top job, as he eyes off seats to pick up after the Liberal Party went backwards in the 2022 election.

The “let’s get Australia back on track” slogan replicated the New Zealand National Party’s election-winning rhetoric and has been likened to Donald Trump’s “make America great again”.

“What it means is that we want to help families who have really struggled under this government,” Dutton said.

“I really want our country to be the winner of the next election.”

But Health Minister Mark Butler criticised Dutton for opposing the government’s cost-of-living relief measures in parliament and offering no policies in a signature campaign speech.

“It reflects this extraordinary arrogance that Peter Dutton thinks he can skate to victory at the upcoming election simply on rhetoric and sledging,” he said.

Asked whether the Coalition would consider tax cuts, Liberal frontbencher James Paterson said his party would have more to say in coming months.

“We’ll always be fiscally responsible, but wherever we have the opportunity to reduce taxes, we’ll do so,” he told ABC News.

Dutton also confirmed he would soon reshuffle the Coalition’s front bench. Albanese said he would reallocate cabinet positions in January, with senior frontbencher Bill Shorten soon to leave parliament.

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