Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s Budget in Reply

One of the privileges and opportunities afforded to a Leader of the Opposition is to hand down the Opposition’s Budget in Reply.

After first becoming a Minister in 2004, and spending the last nine years as a Member of the Coalition Government, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, tonight delivered the Coalition’s Budget in Reply Address.

Mr Dutton used his Budget in Reply speech to highlight ongoing pressures for Australian families with rising energy and electricity bills, the cost-of-living crisis and the scrapping of infrastructure plans.

Mr Dutton also used this opportunity to discuss the Coalition’s economic record, support for housing relief, industrial relations, supporting women and children, online safety, defence and veterans.

It was separately an opportunity for Mr Dutton to recount his early life and his formative experience in the Police Force, presenting his ‘values’ as the Opposition Leader.

Below are a few key areas Mr Dutton outlined as the Coalition’s priorities:

Energy Costs and Security

The Leader of the Opposition used his first Budget in Reply Address to signal the Coalition’s intention to seek an ‘intelligent conversation’ on the role of new-age nuclear technologies in the energy mix. He cited the imperative to create affordable, reliable, and emissions-free energy.

Mr Dutton noted that investment in renewable energy, reducing emissions, and environmental protection is crucial, but that technology does not yet exist at the scale needed to store renewable energy for electricity that is reliable during peak periods and at night.

Tax Relief

Mr Dutton noted that the cost-of-living relief is interconnected with tax relief and championed a core principle of the Coalition that ‘the best reward for hard work is lower taxes’.

He highlighted the benefits that stage three of the legislated tax cuts would provide, and identified several examples in which individuals will save through tax relief.

Housing

Mr Dutton recommitted the Coalition to assist first-home buyers to access their superannuation through the Super Home Buyer Scheme, noting their strong record in getting first-home buyers and single-parent families into their own homes.

He also noted that under a Coalition Government, women who separate later in life, women with few housing options and those who are increasingly homeless would be extended the same opportunities under the Scheme.

Jobs Encouraging Pensioners and Veterans and Industrial Relations

The Leader of the Opposition cited worker shortages across Australia and the Coalition’s policy, first announced in June 2022, to double the Age and Veteran Service Pension Work Bonus Scheme from $300 to $600 per fortnight or to $1,200 for couples, in order to mobilise a steady workforce.

In his speech, Mr Dutton also criticised Labor’s changes to multi-employer bargaining as undermining productivity and increasing the potential for economy-wide strike action.

Supporting Women, Children and the NDIS and Immigration

Mr Dutton referenced his previous life as a police officer to reiterate the Coalition’s commitment to investing significantly in family support services, as well as his personal Parliamentary record on children’s safety.

He cited his record in the area of child protection and the safety of women as enduring priorities of a government he would lead, but also noted his willingness to work with the Albanese Government to combat the scourge of domestic violence in Australia.

The Opposition Leader’s Address also included reference to supporting sensible government proposals to strengthen the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and ensure its sustainability, in order to allow structured reform of the Budget and certainty to people with disabilities and their families.

Also announced was that a Coalition Government would restore the $50 million funding for Round 7 of Safer Communities Funding, which had in earlier funding supported the safety of Australia’s multicultural communities.

Education

In the area of education, Mr Dutton spoke of Coalition’s pledge to work with families to reflect their values and perspectives in schools and called for tightened laws and greater accountability for social media companies for online safety.

Defence

Speaking of Australia’s Defence capabilities, highlighted was the need for unity between Labor and the Coalition in the face of ongoing threats in the region.

He also noted the AUKUS deal negotiated by former Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison MP as giving Australia the best chance of peace.

Mr Dutton thanked members of the Australian Defence Force along with first responders, local councillors, community leaders, volunteers and parliamentarians for their efforts in supporting Australians affected by the recent floods.

Infrastructure, the Regions and Farmers

The Opposition Leader’s Budget in Reply Address referenced the Coalition’s commitment of $120 bn for infrastructure over the next ten years, and noted the cancellation and delay of several infrastructure projects within the Albanese Government’s Budget.

Mr Dutton criticised Labor’s intent to reduce methane emissions by 30 per cent as driving up the cost of meat at the supermarket and concluded his speech by citing the Coalition’s positive and bold plan ahead of the next election and intention in Opposition to ‘stand against Labor’s broken promises’.

Other Opposition Comments

The Federal Election outcome in May demonstrated that now more than ever, the diversity of Australia is reflected in its Parliament.

Over the course of Budget Week, the Leader of the Australian Greens and new Independent Members of Parliament also shared their insight into the Government’s ‘re-do’ Budget, some of which have been highlighted below:

The Greens:

24 hours after Treasurer the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP delivered his speech and 24 hours before the Hon Peter Dutton MP delivered his Budget in Reply Address, Leader of the Australian Greens Mr Adam Bandt MP delivered the Greens’ Budget Reply Speech criticising Labor’s Budget as ‘more of the same’ and giving ‘gas corporations a free ride’. The Greens called on the Government to scrap stage three tax cuts, axe fossil fuel subsidies, and ensure corporations pay a ‘fair share of tax’.

Mr Bandt further outlined policies such as putting dental and mental health into Medicare, rent freezes, free childcare, building affordable housing and wiping student debt as part of his party’s policy platform that would have the ‘power….to deliver people real and immediate cost of living relief’.

Australian Greens Spokesperson for Education, Senator Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has also announced plans to introduce a Senate bill to abolish indexation on all education and training loans and link the minimum repayment income to the median wage.

The Greens have welcomed the October Budget’s $75.1 million over two years to prepare for the delivery of the referendum to enshrine a First Nations Voice to Parliament, as well as $5.8 million over three years to commence work on establishing an independent Makarrata Commission to oversee processes for agreement making and truth-telling.

Independents:

Independent Senator for the Australian Capital Territory, Senator David Pocock

Independent Senator for the Australian Capital Territory, Senator Mr David Pocock, spoke of the Budget as an ‘outline of priorities’ ahead of Treasurer Chalmers’ Address, and criticised the Albanese Government’s subsidies for companies making ‘record profits’ amidst rising cost of living pressures.

Following the handing down of the October Budget, Senator Pocock has also joined The Greens in pushing the Government to exclude plug-in hybrid cars from exemptions to the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) outlined as part of the Albanese Government’s Electric Vehicle Strategy and in their concerns that the Scheme would create a fossil fuel subsidy and slow Australia’s transition to electric vehicles.

Independent Member of the House of Representatives, Dr Monique Ryan MP, Member for Kooyong

Independent Member of the House of Representatives, Dr Monique Ryan MP, has used social media to outline a summary of ‘wins and losses’ from the October Budget in key areas of emissions reduction, health and the NDIS, ‘what’s missing’ and ‘personal highlights’ – the latter including funding for the National Anti-Corruption Commission, reforms for the Safeguard Mechanism, tax incentives for the supply of electric vehicles and provisions for charging infrastructure, and $750 million to fund 50% of ongoing costs to states and territories for COVID-19 vaccine delivery and treatments.

Dr Ryan has also shared her concerns the Government’s Cheaper Childcare Bill has not omitted its ‘activity test’ for parents, underpinned by an ‘outdated belief that children should only go to childcare if their parents work’.

Independent Member of the House of Representatives, Ms Kylea Tink MP, Member for North Sydney

Independent Member of the House of Representatives, Ms Kylea Tink MP, has also summarised key features of the Budget for her constituency in the key areas of families, human rights, young people, climate, and mental health. Ms Tink has particularly criticised the Budget’s cuts to Medicare-funded psychology sessions by 50%.

Given the current economic environment, both globally and at home, the Government not only faces the task of managing the books but managing the Opposition, a challenging crossbench and the nation’s expectations.