JANE AGIRTAN INDEPENDENT

Peter Dutton has vowed to establish a gas reservation scheme that will reduce prices and sack all 41,000 federal public servants hired under Anthony Albanese if he wins an election billed as a “sliding doors moment” for the nation.

After opposing and vowing to repeal Labor’s 70 cents a day income tax cuts which are not expected for another 15 months, Dutton on Thursday committed to halve the fuel excise for 12 months, which he claimed would save motorists $1,500 annually.

Dutton confirmed the Coalition would not announce its own income tax cuts during the campaign

“We have a great desire [for tax cuts] when we clean up Labor’s mess, but we won’t be able to provide tax cuts during the campaign,” he said in a post-speech interview with ABC’s 7.30 program.

As widely expected, Dutton announced a “national gas plan” that would include an east coast reservation scheme requiring LNG producers to set aside more supply for domestic use.

“This will secure an additional 10 to 20% of the east coast’s demand – gas which would otherwise be exported,” he said.

“Gas sold on the domestic market will be decoupled from overseas markets to protect Australia from international price shocks.”

A Dutton government would also allow Labor’s renewables-focused Capacity Investment Scheme to invest in gas projects, allocate $1bn for gas infrastructure and impose “use-it-or-lose” rules for gas drilling companies.

“This plan will deliver lower wholesale gas prices which will flow through the economy,” Dutton said.

Dutton claimed the plan would lower the wholesale gas price from $14 a gigajoule to less than $10 a gigajoule by the end of the year.

Dutton confirmed all 41,000 positions created under Labor would be culled.He said the mass sackings would save the budget $7bn a year “once in place”, and more than $10bn over the forward estimates.

Dutton claimed frontline positions would be spared and promised the Coalition would invest in essential services such as health, aged care, the NDIS, defence and veterans “in line with the national interest and public expectations”.

Dutton recommitted to cutting permanent migration by 25% – a promise he made in his 2024 budget reply – which he said would help free up housing.

He did not detail targets for net overseas migration, which is forecast to fall from 335,000 this year to 225,000 in 2026-27, under projections in Tuesday’s budget.

Dutton said the target would be announced “in due course”.

The opposition leader did not reveal a figure for defence spending after the Albanese government promised funding would grow to beyond 2.3% of GDP by 2034.

However, Dutton flagged an announcement during the campaign that would exceed Labor’s target, as Australia faces pressure from the Trump administration to boost military spending.

“During the election campaign, we will announce our significant funding commitment to defence,” Dutton said.

“A commitment which – unlike Labor’s – will be commensurate with the challenges of our times.”

A Dutton government would set a target of 400,000 apprentices and trainees, offering businesses a $12,000 incentive to hire young Australians.

It would also commit an extra $400m for youth mental health.