Opposition leader Peter Dutton to hammer Anthony Albanese’s Labor government record in first major 2025 speech

Federal opposition leader Peter Dutton will use his first major election rally of the year to urge “quietly patriotic” Australians to turf Labor from government, in a speech that draws on the electoral messaging of his predecessor.

The Coalition candidate for the top job will kick off his campaign in the Melbourne electorate of Chisholm on Sunday — an electorate the Liberals lost in 2022.

Set to give a speech alongside Nationals leader David Littleproud and deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley, Mr Dutton will be introduced by the Liberal Party’s candidate and a familiar face, Dr Katie Allen, who is fighting to get back into parliament after losing the neighbouring seat of Higgins in the same election.

According to excerpts of Mr Dutton’s speech, he will use the opportunity to double down on key Coalition messaging — that Australians can’t afford another three years of Labor.

“I think the past three years are a good indication of what the future will look like under a returned Labor Government,” he will say.

“That’s a future Australians can’t afford … And the next federal election is a sliding doors moment for our nation.”

In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Dutton will set out the policy priorities of his protective government, including fighting cost of living, fixing the housing crisis, rebalancing migration and growing a stronger regional Australia.

He will argue only a government led by him can reverse Australia’s decline and appeal to “compassionate, stoic, fair and quietly patriotic” voters to return the Coalition to power.

His appeal to the quietly patriotic is reminiscent of his predecessor’s, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, 2019 shock win which he famously said belonged to the “Quiet Australians”.

So too does it echo Howard’s Battlers and Menzies’ forgotten people.

Mr Dutton will describe Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has visited three states and territories this week in a pre-election blitz, as one of the country’s “weakest ever” prime ministers.

“Australians have endured one of the most incompetent governments in our nation’s history,” he will say.

“As a result, Australians are worse off. Our country is less safe. Our society is less cohesive.

“For so many Australians, aspiration has been replaced by anxiety. Optimism has turned to pessimism. And national confidence changed to dispiritedness.

“I hope Australians will recognise that a Coalition Government is the only chance to get our country back on track.”