Dutton Says ABC Too City Focused, Questions the Volume of Public Servants Overseeing Education

The opposition leader hinted at what the Coalition would consider if it embarks on major cost-cutting in the government.

Students seen at the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus in New South Wales, Australia on March 24, 2025. Roni Bintang/Getty Images

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has doubled down on proposed budget cuts across health, education, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), arguing his focus is on rewarding excellence and eliminating waste.

Speaking specifically about the ABC, Dutton said the broadcaster was not devoting as much resources to its regional services.

“There are a lot of regional services for the ABC which I think are underdone,” he said.

He cited his visit to flood-hit western Queensland, arguing that the ABC should play a more integral role in such communities.

“Just having it based in Sydney or Melbourne is not helping people in outer metro or regional areas,” Dutton said on Sky News.

Dutton insisted that while the ABC does “a lot of very good work,” taxpayers expect funding to be contingent on efficiency.

“If it’s not being run efficiently and there is waste, then I think taxpayers–who pay for it and who are working harder than ever just to get ahead—would expect us to not support the waste.”

A woman walks past Australia's public broadcaster ABC's head office building in Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 27, 2018. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images

Dutton Reaffirms NDIS Commitment, Targets Fraud

On the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Dutton pledged to maintain its sustainability while cracking down on rorts and organised crime.

He acknowledged the scheme’s importance but cited concerns about alleged mismanagement under Labor, referencing government reports on fraudulent claims.

While a task force has been set up to tackle these issues, Dutton said he had not been briefed on its progress.

“I want to see the money go to frontline services and help those who are most in need,” he said, vowing to support the NDIS while ensuring public funds are not misused.

States Run Hospitals and Schools, Not the Federal Government: Dutton

Dutton also addressed concerns about funding for health and education, reaffirming the Coalition’s commitment to these sectors. However, he pointed out that the federal government neither owns hospitals nor runs schools directly.

“There are funding agreements that are administered by the [federal education] department, and that department has grown by literally thousands of people,” he said.

He questioned whether hiring more public servants in Canberra was making a tangible difference in classrooms.

“Does it help with additional support for kids with disabilities and learning difficulties? I’m happy to be convinced, but I suspect the prime minister has ceded to the unions, and it’s not about service delivery—it’s about union power.”

Dutton’s Attack on ‘Ideological Teaching’ Sparks Backlash

Dutton earlier ignited a strong response after saying some teachers were pushing ideological agendas in schools, and suggesting federal funding should be tied to how schools deliver the curriculum.

“We should be saying to those receiving funding that we want our kids to be taught the curriculum,” he said. “We want our kids to learn what they need to face life’s challenges, not to be guided into an agenda coming out of universities.”

He argued that a “silent majority” of Australians shared his concerns about classroom teachings.

But Labor Education Minister Jason Clare dismissed Dutton’s remarks as engaging in the “culture wars,” highlighting that the national curriculum was approved under the former Coalition government.

“I’m focused on making sure our kids can read and write, not this extreme agenda of Peter Dutton,” Clare said.

“The fact that Peter Dutton isn’t focused on the fundamentals shows he’s distracted by these culture wars.”

Comparisons to Trump’s Education Policies

The Greens accused Dutton of borrowing from the Project 2025 playbook, which media outlets linked to Trump, that aims to reshape school curricula in favor of conservative ideology.

Greens education spokesperson Senator Penny Allman-Payne said, “Dutton is fantasising about teachers robotically delivering a strictly controlled right-wing curriculum that glorifies neoliberalism and colonialism while condemning collective action and diversity.”

Australian Education Union President Correna Haythorpe described Dutton’s remarks as “alarming,” warning they signaled a shift toward U.S.-style interference in education.

“He is taking a leaf from the Trump playbook by threatening to cut thousands of jobs, control what teachers teach, and pull funding if they don’t comply with his ideology,” she said. “Dutton’s proposed control of the curriculum is chilling, especially when we see book banning and the erosion of teachers’ autonomy happening in the U.S.”

The opposition has confirmed plans to slash 41,000 public service jobs if the Coalition wins the May 3 election, but it has not specified which departments will be affected.