Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hits out at Trump, Dutton and DOGE-style labour cuts in Brisbane rally

For Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, no two people loom larger over the campaign than Peter Dutton and Donald Trump. DOGE-style public service cuts and US threats to Australian beef and medical benefits were in focus for the PM in his speech before the party faithful at the State Library of Queensland in South Brisbane on Sunday morning. Mr Albanese called for hope and a homegrown future in his address, making veiled swipes at Trump-like policies adopted by his rival Peter Dutton, to the cheers of supporters, ex-premiers, and an ex-deputy PM. “Just this week, new tariffs and trade tensions,” Mr Albanese said. “We cannot choose what challenges will arise. But we can determine how we respond. “That’s why we made it clear to the United States that our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is not up for negotiation. “That’s why we spelled out the fact we will not compromise biosecurity standards for Queensland beef. “Our government deals with global challenges, the Australian way, the Labor way. “Navigating the rough seas, while always keeping our eyes on the horizon.” The PM said Australia “didn’t settle for a knock-off version of another nation’s healthcare system”. Instead, it created its own – Medicare – a symbol of Labor’s campaign for the May 3 election where its future says hangs in the balance, Mr Albanese said. “That’s the way forward for us now. Our own way,” Mr Albanese said. “The future we want is not an American-style wages system. Not American levels of student debt. And never, ever American health care. “In this time of uncertainty, we should not try and be more like someone else, or somewhere else. We only need to trust in what makes us Australian. “Our place in the world. Our values. Our people. “This is not a time for cutting and wrecking, for thinking small, punching down, aiming low or looking back.” Mr Albanese used his Building Australia’s Future speech to sell voters on a clear choice: between growth or the Liberal’s cuts. Spruiking healthcare, energy rebates and education, the PM claimed Mr Dutton would take a knife to much of it. He said the Liberal leader was “running away from questions about their promises to cut wages and increase taxes. “And trying to run and hide from the cuts they will make to education and health to pay for their $600bn nuclear reactors,” Mr Albanese said. “My opponent started his campaign measuring-up the curtains at Kirribilli House while telling everyone else they can’t work from home. “Some Queenslander. He’s dreaming about Sydney Harbour – we’re upgrading the Bruce Highway”. Mr Albanese described previous Coalition governments as a “regime of systematic cruelty”, specifically calling out the illegal robodebt scheme to force welfare recipients to pay back payments. “It tells you everything that the policy our opponents brag about the most, the thing that really gets them excited is sacking over 40,000 people,” he said. “These Liberal cuts would mean the return of Robodebt. A regime of systematic cruelty that hounded some of the most vulnerable people in Australia for money they never owed.” Mr Albanese said Mr Dutton’s promised DOGE-style cuts would go “much deeper because this time they need to find $600bn to pay for their nuclear reactors. “That money won’t come from the private sector, they don’t want to touch it,” he PM said. “But the money has to come from somewhere.” The Trump-of-it-all was echoed by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who said the prime ministership was “not an interview for the Apprentice”, drawing laughs, but admitted the election would be close. It comes after Mr Albanese announced the Cheaper Home Battery Program, which promises to dramatically slash the cost of solar batteries for small businesses, homes and community centres.