Whose fault was that? Let’s ask Dutton (Part 1)

Since being appointed Leader of the Opposition in 2022 – a role in which he has shown utter incompetence – Peter Dutton has repeatedly masked his own failures by resorting to the classic Liberal tactic of deflection: “Hey, look over there!” while pointing the finger at Anthony Albanese and his government.

Dutton has blamed a broad array of problems on their leadership, cautioning about dire consequences if they stay in office. According to him, everything is their fault. Here’s a rundown of his grievances that I’ve located:

Economic Mismanagement and Cost-of-Living Crisis

Dutton has repeatedly accused Labor of mismanaging the economy, leading to a cost-of-living crisis. In June 2022, shortly after Labor took office, he warned that their policies would cause higher prices in shops, increase unemployment, and fuel inflation due to higher spending (e.g., Labor’s pledge to spend an additional $7.4 billion over four years on Medicare, childcare, and other areas). He argued that this would lead to higher interest rates, making life harder for families and businesses, but then vowed to match it.

Following Labor’s loss in the Queensland state election last October, Dutton reiterated that the federal government’s economic mismanagement, including running up huge debt and creating a cost-of-living crisis, was a key reason for voter dissatisfaction. He suggested this trend would continue at the federal level.

In April this year, Dutton claimed that 29,000 businesses had gone bust since Labor took office in 2022, attributing this to “Labor’s excessive regulation and interference in the economy.” However, analysis shows the insolvency rate was not significantly different from pre-pandemic levels under the Coalition, suggesting broader economic factors like inflation and post-pandemic shifts were also at play.

Energy Prices and Policy Failures

In June 2022, Dutton criticised Labor’s energy policies, specifically targeting Energy Minister Chris Bowen, whom he called a “bad minister.” He expressed skepticism about Labor’s claim that power prices would decrease by 2025 through increased renewable energy, arguing that the Coalition’s lack of investment in renewables over nine years (as claimed by Labor) was not the root cause of the energy crisis.

Last December, Dutton’s broader narrative tied Labor’s “green agenda” to high energy prices, capitalising on public frustration over soaring energy bills despite Labor’s climate policies, which he derided as ineffective and driven by greenwashing.

Illegal Immigration and Border Security

In February 2023, Dutton accused Labor of weakening border security by scrapping temporary protection visas, a key pillar of the Coalition’s Operation Sovereign Borders. He pointed to the arrival of four illegal boats from Sri Lanka since the election as evidence that Labor’s approach was encouraging people smugglers, describing their response as “ham-fisted.”

This criticism aligns with Dutton’s long-standing focus on immigration, though he later adjusted his rhetoric in 2025 to appeal to diaspora communities, indicating a more nuanced stance during the election campaign.

Rise in Antisemitism

In January this year, Dutton claimed that “every incident of antisemitism in Australia since late 2023 could be traced to Albanese’s weak leadership,” specifically referencing pro-Palestinian protests at the Sydney Opera House following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. He accused Albanese of failing to provide strong leadership on this issue.

A month later he continued this narrative, criticising Labor’s response to antisemitic attacks, including the discovery of a caravan in Dural containing explosives and a list of synagogues. He argued that the government was not doing enough.

In the Coalition announced plans to combat antisemitism, including $35 million to rebuild the Adass Israel Synagogue after an arson attack in December 2024, framing Labor’s response as weak and insufficient.

Public Sector Growth and Wasteful Spending

In January this year Dutton criticised Labor for forecasting an increase of 36,000 public service jobs by June 2025, arguing that roles like cultural diversity and inclusion advisers did “nothing to improve the lives of everyday Australians.” He promised that a Coalition government would cut wasteful spending and scale back the public service.

Last month the Coalition accused Labor of being the “enemy of small business” by axing the Instant Asset Write-Off and increasing taxes, which Dutton claimed would hit small business cash flow by tens of thousands of dollars.

Weakness on National Security and Law and Order

In February Dutton found fault with Labor for being slow to respond to national security issues, particularly around antisemitism and potential terror threats (e.g., the Dural caravan incident). He claimed Labor was “dragged kicking and screaming” to implement mandatory minimum sentences for terror and hate crimes, a policy the Coalition had pushed for.

The following month he criticised Albanese’s decision to discuss a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, calling it “reckless” and claiming the Prime Minister was “out of his depth” on national security, especially for not consulting the chief of the defence force.

In October 2024, Dutton accused Albanese of weakness in responding to the Middle East crisis, particularly for not condemning Hezbollah strongly enough and failing to support Israel adequately.

Failure to Address the Housing Crisis

In March 2025, Dutton tied immigration to Australia’s housing crisis, arguing that Labor’s policies had exacerbated the issue. He noted that many migrant families were worried about their children’s inability to afford homes, though he was careful not to alienate diaspora communities, reflecting a shift in tone during the election campaign.

Early this month the Coalition also criticised Labor for the CFMEU’s links to organised crime, claiming this drove up the cost of housing by allowing corruption on construction sites.

Division and Weak Leadership

In January Dutton accused Albanese of being divisive, particularly on issues like Australia Day, where he vowed to reinstate a rule forcing councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26, a rule Labor had scrapped.

In October last year he labeled Albanese’s stance on the Middle East crisis as weak, accusing him of making decisions for domestic political benefit rather than national interest.

In December 2024, his attacks intensified, with claims that Albanese was failing to represent Jewish communities adequately, specifically targeting Labor MP Josh Burns. Albanese called this criticism “disgraceful,” but Dutton framed Labor as out of touch.

Failure to Deliver on Promises

In October 2024, Dutton stated that Albanese had promised a lot for Australians and delivered nothing, particularly on cost-of-living relief, following the Queensland election results.

A month later Dutton’s narrative was that Labor had failed to address living standards, which had declined at record rates under Albanese.

Healthcare Crisis

This month the Coalition accused Labor of causing a healthcare crisis, noting that GP bulk billing had risen to over 88% under the Coalition but had declined under Labor, making it harder and more expensive to see a doctor.

As you can see there’s not a crisis – real or imaginary – that Dutton won’t blame Labor for. He’s even blaming Labor for future events that may or may not come to pass. But that’s for another day …

Continued tomorrow: Warnings of What Will Go Wrong if Labor Is Re-Elected

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