What the Coalition Plans for the Future: Overview of Budget Response

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Peter Dutton has promised to lower energy bills through a National Gas Plan, slash migration and cut thousands of federal public servants as part of his election pitch to voters.

In his fourth budget reply speech, the Opposition leader has pledged to fast-track new gas projects, increase the small business instant asset write-off to $30,000 and cut migration by 25 per cent if elected.

“It’s a sliding doors moment for our nation,” Dutton said during his speech, adding: “This election is as much about leadership as it’s about policy.”

Here are some of the key elements of Dutton’s pitch to Australian voters.

Introducing a national gas plan to lower bills

A Dutton government would immediately introduce a National Gas Plan to prioritise domestic supply of gas and drive down energy bills.

The plan includes fast-tracking new gas projects, halving approval times and launching a gas reservation plan, under which a certain amount of gas produced would be reserved for the domestic market.

Dutton said it would “secure an additional 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the east coast’s demand” and would “drive down new wholesale domestic gas prices from over $14 per gigajoule to under 10 per gigajoule”.

The policy could come at a loss to the industry, shifting gas destined for export at a higher price.

Western Australia has had a similar policy since 2006.

Cheaper fuel

With a clear focus on the hip pocket, the Coalition also revealed it will cut the fuel excise from about 50 cents to 25 cents per litre on its first sitting day.

Dutton said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would “ensure that the fuel excise cut will be passed on in full to consumers”.

Slashing migration

Dutton has confirmed the Coalition will cut the permanent migration program by 25 per cent if elected on 3 May.

Under the plan, levels currently set at 185,000 will be cut by an estimated 46,000 places.

“Labor is neither in control of migration, nor has it kept migration at sustainable levels,” Dutton said.

He added the plan will free up housing and “restore the great Australian dream of home ownership”.

While the commitment was made in last year’s budget reply, it required clarity after the Opposition’s treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor appeared to walk back the policy on Sunday’s Insiders program.

Boost to instant asset write-off for small businesses

The Albanese government extended a $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses, passing the legislation late on Wednesday night.

In his budget reply, Dutton has appealed to business owners by pledging to boost the write-off to $30,000.

It adds on a previous promise to provide deductions of up to $20,000 per year for business-related meal expenses.

Cuts to public servants

Dutton has accused the Albanese government of “ineffectual and wasteful” spending.

He says cutting 41,000 public servants hired under Labor will save the budget over $10 billion over the forward estimates.

Following concerns that the policy could affect essential services, including veterans’ affairs, he said: “We won’t cut frontline service delivery roles”.