Opposition leader Peter Dutton said on Saturday that loyal Liberal Party Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was “a boy in a man’s body”, in a highly personal attack.
Dutton spoke at a federal council meeting of politicians, administrators and Liberal Party members in Sydney in which he described Albanese as “weak” and a leader who told people “what they want to hear, not what needs to be said.” .
‘He is a man with a mind still captured in his university years; “He’s a boy in a man’s body,” Dutton said.
“I think Mr Albanese is a decent man who cares deeply about his country, but I think he is completely out of his depth as prime minister.”
The opposition leader has argued that the next federal election will define Australia’s “future and destiny” and that voters will decide the nation’s energy path forward.
Dutton gave a speech to a federal council meeting of Liberal Party politicians, administrators and members in Sydney on Saturday in which he described Albanese as “weak” and a leader who told people “what they want to hear, not what they must be”. saying’
‘He is a man with a mind still captured in his university years; “He’s a boy in a man’s body,” Dutton said of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured). “I think Mr Albanese is a decent man who cares deeply about his country, but I think he is completely out of his depth as prime minister.”
Australians will decide their energy future at the next election, the opposition leader says, as he criticizes the government’s “reckless” renewables policy and reaffirms its nuclear pledge.
“The next elections will not only define the next political mandate, but they will define the future and destiny of this nation,” he stated.
Voters will have to choose the path they want to take, including the country’s energy future amid rising energy costs, Dutton said.
“A choice between Labour’s reckless renewables-only policy will see Australians’ energy bills soar even higher,” he said.
“Or the coalition’s plan for cheaper, cleaner and more consistent energy, including our visionary plan to become a nuclear-powered nation and do the right thing for the environment.”
This comes after the coalition on Wednesday revealed plans for seven nuclear reactors in five states on the sites of coal-fired power plants, should it win government.
The plan raised security concerns in regional areas where the reactors will be built, as well as criticism that the coalition did not publish any costs.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been criticized for sticking to “unattainable” renewable emissions targets, which the opposition says are ruining Australians’ budgets.
“He is more interested in appeasing the international climate lobby than defending the interests of ordinary Australians,” Dutton said.
“I will be someone who will not shirk the difficult and necessary decisions that must be made in the best interest of our national interest in these difficult and precarious times.”
“The next election will not only define the next political mandate, it will define the future and destiny of this nation,” Dutton told the Sydney audience.
Opposition leader Paul Fletcher dismissed fears that nuclear policy could make it harder to win metropolitan voters at the next election, saying it demonstrated the party’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The coalition faced significant challenges in the 2022 federal election in prominent inner-city seats from teal independents, who promised greater action on climate change.
While the reactors would be built in regional locations, Fletcher said those in inner-city areas would also embrace the idea of nuclear power.
According to the plan, the construction of the first facility would take between 2035 and 2037 at the earliest.
Deputy Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister criticized the nuclear policy which she said was costly and risky.
“The bill will be borne by energy users, the risks will be borne by ratepayers, and the costs will be borne by communities who miss out on the jobs that will be created as the world moves towards net zero,” he said.