PM ridiculed over cost-of-living as LNP eyes state prize
By William Ton and Savannah Meacham
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has ridiculed the Prime Minister’s promise that things will get better as he declared his federal and state parties are in a strong position to win the next elections.
Dutton detailed his party’s ambitions during a speech at the annual LNP state conference on Saturday, where he championed state leader David Crisafulli ahead of the October poll and attacked Anthony Albanese’s record.
The 2024 LNP Convention started on Friday.Credit: LNP/Facebook
This followed Friday’s news that divisive LNP senator Gerard Rennick’s last-ditch bid to rescue his parliamentary career has reportedly been dashed by his party.
Albanese on Saturday said “it is going to get better” thanks to Labor’s “short-term cost-of-living relief that’s immediate in a way that makes the economy in the medium term better” in an interview with News Corp.
But the opposition leader said the prime minister had “no positive message” to convey after two years in government.
Among a dozen of the government’s broken core promises were a Voice referendum with no detail and a promise of a $275 reduction in electricity prices, Dutton claimed.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton, Nationals Leader David Littleproud, Liberal member for Hume Angus Taylor and Liberal Candidate for Eden-Monaro Joanne van der Plaat. Jo van der Plaat visiting an IGA supermarket.Credit: James Brickwood
“And the prime minister now is telling us that there are better times ahead, even though every credible economic analyst in the country is saying interest rates are likely to go up again for the 13th and 14th time,” he said.
“He can’t give you the detail about how he will make things improve.”
The federal coalition is in a strong position to win the next election with a back-to-basics economic plan and a record nuclear energy investment, Dutton argued.
“We are credible, we have momentum that we’re putting pressure onto a bad government (and) we are a united team,” he told the party faithful.
Dutton also turned his attention to his Queensland state counterpart, describing Crisafulli as a thoughtful and practical leader.
“We can achieve government because [Queenslanders] respect a leader who has not only demonstrated a plan to end their despair, but a leader who has a vision to revitalise the state,” he said.
Premier Steven Miles was described as being installed by union bosses who “simply took over the controls of the wrecking ball” from Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“This premier’s shameless vote-buying tactics can’t paper over Labor’s policy failures or conceal Queensland’s grim economic reality,” Dutton said.
“David hit the nail on the head in his recent budget reply speech when he said Queensland is gripped by four major crises: a cost of living crisis, a youth crime crisis, a health crisis, and a housing crisis.”
The excitement to hear from the party’s leaders was evident among the 900 delegates at the event, with Queensland opposition environment spokesman Sam O’Connor saying the focus was on winning the October Queensland election.
Delegates are expected to discuss 173 policy items, including making pepper spray legal to use in self-defence, abolishing the eSafety Commission and reducing the corporate tax rate across the three-day event.
Motions for the state LNP and federal Coalition to condemn actions against Jewish people in Australia and provide unwavering support for Israel and whether the next federal coalition government will sell or privatise the ABC are also on the cards.
Meanwhile, Rennick had hoped to remain on the Liberal National Party’s ticket ahead of a state council meeting at a three-day conference in Brisbane from Friday.
Senator Gerard Rennick may have lost the backing of the LNP.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
He had launched an appeal after he narrowly lost a 2023 pre-selection ballot for third spot on the Queensland LNP’s senate ticket.
Rennick claimed there were “gross irregularities” with the process but the appeal was rejected.
He escalated the complaint to the Supreme Court in Brisbane but it was dismissed in June, with Justice Glenn Martin ruling Rennick had failed to lodge legal action in time.
Rennick had a final chance to salvage his political career via the LNP state council but it has reportedly upheld the Supreme Court’s decision at a closed-door meeting on Friday, ending his battle.
Rennick gained notoriety during the pandemic for questioning the efficacy of vaccines and mandates and has controversial views on issues such as Ukraine and immigration.
Former senator Ian Macdonald said it was a contentious opening morning at the state conference given the council decision.
But he said it should not be a distraction ahead of the Queensland poll.
“Our focus should be on the October election,” he said on Friday.
“We’re as close as we’ve ever been.”
Rennick has been contacted for comment.
Nationals leader David Littleproud will address the conference on Saturday followed by Crisafulli on Sunday.
AAP