opinion
Peter Dutton: My vision for WA if I become the next Prime Minister of Australia

The decision Western Australians make in this election will be vital to the future prosperity of WA and to the future prosperity of our country. WA is a powerhouse of the national economy. It is blessed with abundant resources, an entrepreneurial spirit and hardworking and resilient people. Unfortunately, Western Australia is not immune to economic risks. It faces a big risk if the Albanese Government is returned for three more years. The Prime Minister might tell you that he is on your side, but we should judge his actions, not his words. His recent actions should concern Western Australians. Under the cover of Budget day this week, we learnt that Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has once again delayed the decision on the extension of WA’s North West Shelf gas hub. The North West Shelf is Australia’s largest resource project. It directly employs 3,000 Western Australians and has delivered many billions in tax revenue and royalties over decades. The extension of the North West Shelf is vital. After a six-year assessment period, the Cook State Government signed it off in December. This triggered a statutory decision-making time frame for the Federal Government of one month. However, Labor has pushed this decision until after the election. In the words of a respected energy analyst, the justification for further delays – after six years – “doesn’t pass the sniff test”. This leaves the extension of this vital project in limbo. It will now be a political bargaining chip, vulnerable to deals between Labor, the Greens and Teals. The Coalition will fast track a decision on the North West Shelf, a vital part of our National Gas Plan, within 30 days of coming to Government. This week we also learned the Albanese Government will bring back the so called ‘nature positive’ (but in reality, mining negative) laws, which Labor spent two years negotiating with the Greens. These laws would be a disaster for Western Australia. As well as threatening mining and resources projects, the WA Chamber of Commerce estimates, these laws would increase housing costs of housing and dramatically increase electricity prices. Even Premier Cook warns these federal Labor laws would hurt WA’s economy and living standards. Mr Albanese tried to pretend he shelved these laws prior to the WA state election. But these anti-mining laws are now coming back. They’d be even more diabolical if Labor is in a minority government with the Greens and Teals. Another example of Mr Albanese’s hostility to WA’s economy is shutting down the live sheep export industry in WA. Farmers, truckies and other industry workers and supporters took to Perth streets on Friday to protest this decision, which will cost jobs and livelihoods in Western Australia. Under Labor, other rural industries, including live cattle exports, would surely be in danger. The Coalition will re-instate the live sheep export industry if elected. This election is about who can better manage the economy and help all Australians get ahead. Under Labor, core inflation has been, on average, more than double what it was under the Coalition. High inflation means high interest rates, which makes housing unaffordable. Under Labor, Australia has had the largest fall in living standards in the developed world. Also under Labor, crime is on the rise and our country is less safe. The Coalition has a positive plan to deliver low inflation, by cutting wasteful spending, reducing tax and red tape. We will provide cheaper energy with a mix of renewables, gas and (in seven locations), replace retired coal plants with zero-emissions nuclear energy. Our plan will make housing more affordable, by funding critical infrastructure, restricting foreign investors and reducing Labor’s record immigration to sustainable levels. We are determined to make the dream of home ownership once again within reach of our children. We will make communities safer, by getting tough on violent crime, boosting defence and border security, and improving online safety for children. The Coalition will provide quality healthcare by funding more GPs, increasing bulk billing and doubling Medicare subsidised mental health sessions. And we will provide immediate cost of living relief for Australians by cutting the petrol and diesel excise tax by 25 cents per litre for 12 months. We can’t afford another three years of Labor. The Coalition will get our country back on track and help Australians get ahead. Most importantly we will back Western Australia and the industries that drive its economic success. The Coalition will cut approval times for new projects and reduce red and green tape which is strangling investment. I want the mining and resources sector in WA to not only have certainty, but to be turbo charged. We will make the right decisions to achieve that.

opinionPeter Dutton: My vision for WA if I become the next Prime Minister of Australia

opinion
Peter Dutton: My vision for WA if I become the next Prime Minister of Australia