Q: You’ve said that you’ll ditch build-to-rent and the HAFF. Why not leave them and add your measures on to the point asked earlier on top?

Dutton:

In relation to the amount of money that’s been spent, the ratings agencies are warning that this Government is a disaster (this is not true) and that if we face a global recession, we’re going to be in all sorts of strife under Labor. We have to manage our economy well. I want to provide immediate relief now, so a 25 cent per litre cut in fuel tax, $1200 back in money you’ve paid in taxes. That’s the immediate support and from there we can fix up the energy system, we can bring the prices down of electricity and gas and we can help Australians recover from a really bad three years under Labor.

Q: You’ve mentioned the $1200 tax offset and temporarily halving the petrol excise. They will cost $16 billion. You’ve looked at tax cuts to pay for higher defence spending. What will you cut to pay for these two signature policies?

Dutton:

We’ve provided some of the costings and we’ll provide those costings in due course in relation to our policies but they’ll demonstrate that the bottom line will always be better under a Liberal government. We’ll always manage the economy more effectively. We’ll provide essential services. We’ll give the rebate back to Australians to help with their immediate needs. You saw this morning, speaking to families and small business-owners, some of them had have had their electricity bills double, some up 40% and Australians can’t afford three more years of Labor.