Dutton attacks identity politics, CFMEU as Libs gather
Callum Godde |
Peter Dutton has blasted the beleaguered CFMEU and identity politics as the opposition leader rallies Liberal Party faithful ahead of the federal election.
In a wide-ranging speech at the Victorian Liberal state council on Saturday, Mr Dutton went on the offensive and laid out an alternative vision for Australia during difficult times.
“We have a real chance to send one of the weakest and most damaging governments in Australian history back to opposition benches,” he told the crowd in Melbourne.
“Australians are resilient people but I believe Australians know in our hearts and minds that they just can’t afford three more years of this.”
Mr Dutton said Australians were not being offered a vision from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying they deserved one aligned with their aspirations and ambitions.
“Vision has fallen victim to many things,” he said.
“From political short-termism to small-target strategies, to the elevation of sexual interests to pandering to identity politics which is undermining national unity.”
The opposition leader said Australia should be a country that “preserves the innocence” of young children, and “reinstate critical thinking and eradicate indoctrination from our classrooms”.
“A country where we foster a love of country and not a sense of perpetual national guilt,” he said.
Mr Dutton spent several minutes of his speech attacking the Albanese government’s handling of allegations of criminality within the CFMEU, accusing the prime minister of turning a blind eye.
He said Australians had known about the union’s criminal links for more than a decade and claimed it was costing Australian taxpayers billions of dollars.
“With it’s gang-like conduct, the CFMEU has heightened costs on project controls by some 30 per cent,” Mr Dutton said.
Former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett, who was bestowed life membership to the Victorian Liberal Party, called for Mr Dutton to consider establishing an “independent” royal commission into the CFMEU and their relationship, if any, with MPs.
“The hope must be that Peter and his team will put and end to this bloody corruption,” he said.
Former state MP Phillip Davis fended off a challenge from Graham Watt to be re-elected state party president after succeeding ex-senator Greg Mirabella in the key role in September.
Reacting to the result, Mr Davis called for the party to present a united front.
“If you have a disagreement, deal with it in-house,” he told the room.
Several energy-related motions are on the agenda for the two-day state council meeting, including one to repeal the state ban on nuclear activities and another to rescind a commitment to net-zero emissions.
Mr Dutton wants to set up seven nuclear plants at coal-fired power stations if the coalition wins the next federal election, including one at Loy Yang in Victoria’s Gippsland.
State Opposition Leader John Pesutto has previously said the state opposition has “no plans for nuclear,” insisting it is focused on addressing energy shortfalls through boosting gas supply.
AAP
