2 weeks Ago By Dominic Giannini
Peter Dutton is seeking to keep the focus on struggling Australians but faces questions over the coalition's policy detail. Login or signup to continue reading The opposition leader went on the offensive in western Sydney on Sunday, touring a brick manufacturing factory to laud his plan to bring power bills down by pumping gas into the system. Firing a shot across Chris Bowen's bow, Mr Dutton toured Austral Bricks in the heart of the energy minister's electorate.
However, Mr Dutton was forced to explain his own referendum proposals after criticising the vote on an Indigenous voice for being expensive and divisive. He's floated holding a referendum on Indigenous constitutional recognition and another on giving a minister the power to strip a dual national of their Australian citizenship if they commit serious crimes like terrorism without a court application. Mr Dutton also backs extending federal electoral terms from three to four years but didn't commit to holding any of the referendums, saying they would only proceed with bipartisan support.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also supports four-year voting cycles but on Sunday ruled out holding any referendums in the next term if Labor is re-elected. A vote to strip citizenship would be a last-case resort if laws were again struck out by the High Court, Mr Dutton said. There was "clearly .
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no bipartisanship" on Indigenous recognition, he added. Questions over clarity dogged the opposition leader as he tried to focus on his power price plan. His main attack stems from a Labor promise at the 2022 election that power bills would come down $275 if elected.
A dramatic increase in some power bills forced the government to put in place two rounds of rebates to cauterise the hikes. Labor argues international factors outside its control such as the war in Ukraine and a volatile global economy fuelled inflation and power prices. It has also pointed to its plan to supercharge renewable energy investment in measures such as wind and solar, which Australia has in abundance, to bring down power bills as well as carbon emissions.
The coalition is promising to halve the fuel excise to ease cost-of-living pressures and to establish an east coast domestic gas reserve in a bid to lower power prices. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.
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