Opposition Leader Peter Dutton told Liberal Party stalwart Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday that he was “a child in a man’s body” in a deeply personal attack.
Mr Dutton spoke before a federal council meeting of politicians, administrators and Liberal Party members in Sydney, portraying Mr Albanese as “weak” and a leader who told people “what they want to hear, not what needs to be said ‘.
“He is a man with a mind still trapped in his college years; he is a child in a man’s body,” Mr Dutton said.
“I think Mr Albanese is a decent man who cares a lot about his country, but I think he is completely out of line as prime minister.”
The Opposition Leader has cast the next federal election as decisive for Australia’s “future and destiny”, with voters determining the country’s energy direction.
Mr Dutton delivered a speech to a federal council meeting of politicians, administrators and Liberal Party members in Sydney on Saturday, portraying Mr Albanese as “weak” and a leader who told people “what they want to hear, not what is has to happen’. said’
“He is a man with a mind still trapped in his college years; he is a child in a man’s body,” Dutton said of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured). “I think Mr Albanese is a decent man who cares a lot about his country, but I think he is completely out of line as prime minister.”
Australians will decide their energy future at the next election, the opposition leader says, as he slams the government’s “reckless” renewable energy policy and touts its nuclear pledge.
“The next elections will define not only the next political term, but also the future and destiny of this nation,” he said.
Voters will have to choose the path they want to take, including the country’s energy future, amid rising energy costs, Mr Dutton said.
“A choice between Labor’s reckless renewables-only policy, which will further increase Australians’ energy bills,” he said.
“Or the Coalition’s Plan for Cheaper, Cleaner and More Consistent Energy, which includes our visionary plan to become a nuclear-powered country and do right by the environment.”
It follows the coalition unveiling plans on Wednesday for seven nuclear reactors in five states on the sites of coal-fired power stations, should it win government.
The plan raised safety concerns in the regional areas where the reactors will be built, as well as criticism over the coalition’s failure to release costs.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was panned for sticking to “unachievable” renewable emissions targets, which the opposition says are blowing up Australians’ budgets.
“He is more interested in appeasing the international climate lobby than standing up for the interests of ordinary Australians,” Dutton said.
“I will be someone who does not shy away from the tough and necessary decisions that must be made in our national interest in these difficult and precarious times.”
“The next election will define not only the next political term, but also the future and destiny of this nation,” Dutton told the crowd in Sydney.
Opposition Leader Paul Fletcher dismissed fears that nuclear policy could make metropolitan voters harder to win over at the next election, saying it shows the party’s commitment to achieving net zero by 2050.
The coalition faced major challenges in the 2022 federal election, winning blue-ribbon inner city seats from teal independents who promised greater action on climate change.
While the reactors would be built in regional locations, Mr Fletcher said those in inner-city areas would also embrace the idea of nuclear power.
Under the plan, it would take until 2035 to 2037 at the earliest before the first facility would be built.
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister lashed out at nuclear policies, which she said were expensive and risky.
“The bill will be paid by energy users, the risks will be borne by taxpayers and the costs will be borne by the communities that will miss out on the jobs that will be created as the world moves to net zero,” she said.