Peter Dutton, Leader of the Opposition, celebrating agriculture and regional Australia at the Royal Easter Show on the Sydney showgrounds in Reid. This seat is a very marginal electorate held by Labor’s Sally Sitou. The showcase event provided a welcome opportunity for Dutton to launch his party’s new $2 billion tax package to help small businesses. At the same time, he addressed the continued push against penalty rates for workers.
Dutton quickly released the new business package, specifically aiming to help businesses making under $10 million. It has very generous criteria, including one that lets S-corporations with 20 or fewer shareholders qualify. Please note that property developers will not be able to apply for this funding. The official launch of the tax package is expected to feature Dutton and Madonna Jarrett, Labor’s candidate for Brisbane. We’re not talking about that — this new policy extends tax deductibility for business lunches. Specifically, it’s intended to help jumpstart economic development opportunities for small businesses.
Labor’s Position on Penalty Rates
As much as Dutton would have liked to take credit for his moves towards flexibility, the Labor Party is still committed to battling to save penalty rates. The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) Labor’s Commitment has welcomed the Labor pledge. They have already ruled out legislating to protect against cuts in weekend pay rates for lower-paid workers. Dutton had previously pledged to oppose any support for these amendments. Today, the SDA is calling on him to reverse his decision.
“Why not be transparent with the Australian people?” – Peter Dutton
The argument around penalty rates has become salient in sphere of the working sector as employees experience multiple economic and systemic pressures. Dutton said he would not support Labor’s planned amendments. This move would place millions of lower income workers in danger of losing their weekend wages, further deepening their economic struggles, claim opponents.
Economic Climate and Dutton’s Rhetoric
During his visit, Dutton addressed broader economic concerns, stating, “That’s been our plan and our policy as we have gone forward, which looked at what we can afford to announce.” His comments show a desire for an extreme focus on fiscal responsibility. ___ Elgar is a former senior economic advisor to the government of Canada.
He underscored the need to deliver cost of living relief to Australians while implementing reforms Australia requires. “I want to make sure that we can… provide support to people now, have an interim solution and then make sure we can introduce the reforms necessary, because bracket creep whacks every taxpayer,” he stated. His comments are a strong reminder of the need to level with the public about pressures Australians are facing—particularly, cost of living pressures.
Dutton was criticized for avoiding questions about climate change during the recent leaders’ debate. Those responses were well criticized by many observers as soft denial at its finest on climate. He stuck to the line that he personally does believe in climate change, but left any detailed conclusions up to scientists.
“So, I believe in climate change. I’ve been clear about that.” – Peter Dutton
Political Landscape and Voter Concerns
In addition to these ongoing discussions Dutton has to steer the LNP through, he’s still batting down repeated hits from the Labor Party. He was pretty confident that most Australians would be able to see beyond what he called Labor’s “scare campaign.” This sentiment is an acknowledgment of the fact that he, like the most recent electorate, understands that people want action, not words.
Dutton took a moment to address his perspective on international events, asserting, “I don’t, to be honest, spend too much time looking at what is happening in the United States.” He made it clear that he is still focused on home, on Australian problems and policies that impact regular citizens’ lives.
