- Peter Dutton has promised to return “transparency” to the Liberal Party
- Queensland MP elected new leader on Monday and outlined his policies
- Attacked Anthony Albanese over rising electricity prices on Monday
- The opposition leader said inflation and the cost of living will soar under Labour.
- Dutton said he would promote federal ICAC and climate change policies.
Peter Dutton has hit out at the Labor government, saying it will be catastrophic for the economy and Australians will have to battle skyrocketing costs of living, inflation and electricity prices.
Former Defense Minister Peter was chosen on Monday to lead Australia’s Conservative opposition following his party’s election defeat nine days ago.
Dutton, who has vowed to learn from the mistakes of his predecessor Scott Morrison, confirmed he will push climate change policies but said life under the Labor Party will be costly for ordinary people.
“I believe passionately in ensuring that we have the right answer to the question of our emissions reductions,” he said Monday.
‘We need to do it in a sensible way. We will support policies that don’t turn off the lights in small businesses (and) that aren’t going to ruin families in the suburbs because they can’t pay Labour’s energy bill.’
Peter Dutton is looking to usher in a new era of “transparency” for the Liberals and vows to fight for the “forgotten Australian” after becoming the party’s new leader.
Dutton said electricity bills will soar under Labor, despite businesses confirming wholesale prices would increase costs during Morrison’s time as prime minister.
He said he feared Anthony Albanese would lead a “bad government” that would leave the country in a dire financial situation.
‘Anthony Albanese has not adequately explained the extent to which energy prices will rise and the extent to which the energy source will be unreliable.
“I am concerned that the Labor Party is embarking on a course where they will tax and spend, and it will be those families and those small businesses that will be negatively affected.”
He also attacked the country’s big corporations, accusing them of siding with other parties in the run-up to the election, accusing them of being too afraid to publicly side with the Coalition.
‘I think we are a poorer country for that. “I think a lot of them are probably afraid to come forward because they’re worried about a Twitter attack and they live in that environment,” Mr Dutton said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrives at Parliament House in Canberra to meet Australian Defense Force chief Angus Campbell on Monday.
Dutton and Deputy Principal Sussan Ley speak to the media on Monday
‘I hope we can continue working with them, but I need them… to talk about all kinds of policies, not just social policies but other economic policies, not just climate change. “I am not looking for a confrontational relationship with large companies.”
The new leader also admitted he made a mistake by walking out of parliament during Kevin Rudd’s Stolen Generation apology, promised to work with crossbenchers and would support a federal ICAC.
Dutton said a united coalition was important and he would prioritize ensuring the two sides worked closely together.
“The Coalition is incredibly important and the best prospect for us in the elections is to have a united Coalition and I am dedicated to that,” he said.