by NAZIYA ALVI RAHMAN – PETER Dutton has vowed to scrap major Labor policies – including climate change initiatives – as PM Anthony Albanese calls a May 3 federal election.
In his official budget reply, the Opposition Leader said Coalition policies would focus on cost of living.
- Public service growth under Albo is three times it was under Rudd and Gillard.
- Foreigners to be banned from purchasing existing housing.
- Permanent migration intake to be cut by 25 per cent.
They included setting up a new gas reserve for domestic use for east coast Australians, halving the fuel excise, while also reiterating the pledge to cull 41,000 public servant jobs created by Labor over the past three years.
In his speech, and part election pitch, Dutton said the Liberal-National Coalition’s plan would introduce four key pieces of legislation on the first sitting day of the next Parliament if he wins office.
ENERGY PRICES
These include bills to reduce energy prices, lower immigration and create more homes, improve public safety and guarantee funding for health, education, and essential services.
“We will reverse Labor’s increase of 41,000 Canberra-based public servants – saving $7b a year,” Mr Dutton said.
“The growth rate of public servants under this government in Canberra is about three times it was under the Rudd-Gillard government.”
He also took aim at major climate change initiatives vowing to axe Labor’s $14b product tax credit for green energy, and the $20b “Rewiring the Nation” fund.
He also vowed to scrap the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, claiming it has failed to deliver a single home.
The surprise announcement of the budget reply was the national gas reserve plan aimed at lowering energy costs.
“Under Labor, gas prices for households have risen by 34 per cent and 43 per cent for businesses,” Mr Dutton said.
The move is aimed at shielding domestic gas prices from international markets, with the Coalition estimating wholesale prices can be reduced from $14 per gigajoule to less than $10.
He also re-affirmed the Coalition’s nuclear plan.
“Nuclear power’s high yield of energy and small footprint means there’s no need to carpet our national parks, prime agricultural land, and coastlines with industrial scale renewables,” he said.
He said the Coalition’s would also “defund the Environmental Defenders Office, which has obstructed vital projects.”
Dutton also reiterated a policy announced earlier in the day, promising to halve the fuel excise for 12 months if elected.
This measure – set to take effect on the first day of Parliament – is estimated to save single-car households $700 a year and a two-car household about $1500 annually.
On migration, Mr Dutton said he would cut permanent migration intake by 25 per cent for two years – and banning foreign investors from purchasing existing homes.PC
