The last Question Time of Australia’s Parliament for 2024 was feisty as usual but also offered an insight into how the next election battleground and messaging in 2025 could shape up.
In the House, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to hold an early election.
“Prime minister, the Australian people cannot believe how incompetent and weak your government has been over the last two and a half years,” Dutton declared, accusing the government of mishandling economic and energy policies.
“You’ve wasted $450 million on [The Voice] referendum that divided the country and failed to address the cost-of-living crisis. It’s time for Australians to have a competent Coalition government back,” Dutton said.
Opposition leaders including Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor continued the pressure, labelling the government’s handling of energy policy and cost of living crisis as a disaster.
Albanese Fires Back
Prime Minister Albanese responded vigorously, dismissing Dutton’s call for an election as a desperate political ploy.
“This isn’t the first time the Leader of the Opposition has called for an election,” Albanese quipped.
“He wants one because he wants to deliver tax cuts to the wealthiest Australians and cut essential services for everyone else.”
He took shots at him for not giving costing for his plan to build seven nuclear power plants.
“His schemes are half baked. He has nothing but anger and recklessness. He has no costings, no detail for any policy that he is putting forward ... policy positions that barely survive around breakfast TV.”
He also took a dig at Dutton saying he called for a national ban on Tiktok, then set up his own account.
Senate Mirrors Lower House Debate
The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Simon Birmingham also criticised the Albanese government’s “off-budget spending spree,” claiming it had worsened Australia’s fiscal situation.“Since being elected in 2022, this government has announced over $50 billion in off-budget spending, leading to a $49.3 billion deterioration in the budget bottom line—the worst in history outside a war or pandemic,” Birmingham said.
He also criticised the lack of clarity on future election promises, adding that, “Australians are desperate for inflation to ease and interest rates to come down, but this government is only making things worse.”
Labor’s Government Leader Penny Wong countered, emphasising Labor’s fiscal discipline.
“Debt is $149 billion lower under us than forecast at the last election, saving Australians $80 billion in interest over the next decade. That’s responsible economic management,” she argued.
Turning to Birmingham, Wong hit back on energy policy, accusing the opposition of planning to finance their $600 billion nuclear plan off-budget.
“It’s risky, costly, and slow. Australians can’t afford an extra $1,000 on their energy bills, let alone wait 20 years for it to deliver.”
Cost-of-living pressures remained central to the exchanges.
Birmingham accused the government of failing to restore real household incomes, saying, “Families aren’t seeing any of the so-called good progress the government boasts about.”
Wong acknowledged Australians were “doing it tough” but defended Labor’s focus on cheaper childcare, medicines, and higher wages.
Civility Wind Down Begins
However, as the session wound down, things took on a warmer note as Albanese thanked those around him.He expressed gratitude to his fiancée Jodie Haydon, son Nathan, and his ministers.
“I’m really proud of the ministerial team, but I’m also proud of the extraordinary capacity we have outside the ministry as well,” he said.
The prime minister also extended an olive branch to Dutton and Nationals Leader David Littleproud.
“In spite of significant ideological differences, we manage to maintain civil discourse. Peter Dutton and I have met on national security issues in a spirit of cooperation, and I wish him and his family a wonderful Christmas.”
Albanese light-heartedly invited Littleproud for another beer in his office and praised him as a person of integrity.
“David is someone you can have a confidential discussion with, and he’s resisted the temptation to take cheap shots on occasion, to his great credit.”
In response, Dutton struck a conciliatory tone.
“I thank the prime minister for his warm remarks. I wish him, Jodie, and Nathan a relaxing Christmas, and I hope Australians find time to recharge over the holidays.”
He also thanked his team and Defence Forces for keeping Australia safe and guarded.
