Peter Dutton campaigns on law and order | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Crime rate increase in Frankston
• Early voting trends
• Coalition's focus on Victoria
• Child sex offender disclosure system
• Illegal cigarette confiscation
• Russia-Indonesia military aircraft reports
• Gambling advertising reforms
• Coalition's defense policy
• Working from home policy
• Defense spending increases
• Andrew Hasty's role and past comments on women in combat

Crime and Community Safety

• Frankston Crime Rate: The crime rate in Frankston has increased by 21% in the last 12 months.
• Opposition's Stance: The Coalition, led by Peter Dutton, is focusing on crime and community safety, particularly in Victoria, criticizing the state and federal Labor governments as being "soft on crime."
• Real-world examples: The opposition leader mentioned meeting a woman who had a machete held against her throat and another whose car was stolen three times in 12 months.
• Child Sex Offender Disclosure System: The Coalition announced a new disclosure system for child sex offenders, allowing parents/guardians to request information from police about individuals in contact with their children. Similar schemes exist in Western Australia and the UK.
• Senator James Patterson's Argument: Senator Patterson argues that Victorians are suffering under a bad state Labor government and a bad federal government that is soft on crime, leading to increased insurance costs (35% more) due to increased crime.

Election Dynamics and Polling

• Early Voting: Polling experts predict that half of Australian voters will have voted before the official polling day on May 3, with early voting starting tomorrow.
• Coalition's Strategy: The Coalition strategists believe they may not win seats in other parts of the country and are focusing on gaining seats in Victoria due to dissatisfaction with the state government.
• Prime Minister's Confidence: The Prime Minister's confidence is boosted by better fortunes in the polls.
• Underdog Status: The Coalition acknowledges being the underdog in the election, with many Australians not yet engaged in the election process.
• 2019 Election Reminder: The Coalition reminds people that in 2019, most predictions were wrong, and they still won.

Economic Management and Cost of Living

• Coalition's Focus: The Coalition aims to "clean up Labor's mess" and manage the economy to reduce the cost of living.

Defense and National Security

• Illegal Cigarettes: The government has confiscated 1.3 billion illegal cigarettes in the last 6 months through the Australian Border Force, supported by a $350 million program.
• Russia-Indonesia Issue: The opposition is seeking a briefing on reports of Russia wanting to base long-range military aircraft in Indonesia, despite the Indonesian Foreign Minister denying the reports.
• Defense Spending: The Coalition promises to increase defense spending and spend it faster than Labor.
• Joint Strike Fighters: The Coalition plans to restore the fourth squadron of joint strike fighters, which Labor cancelled.
• Defense Budget Increase: The Coalition will announce increases in the defense budget, with a longer-term goal to reach 2.5% of GDP by the 2030s.
• Current vs. Future Capabilities: The Coalition criticizes the current government for cannibalizing current defense capabilities to pay for future Orcus capabilities.
• Senator James Patterson's Stance: Senator Patterson states that the Coalition believes this is the most dangerous time for the country since the end of World War II and will have a policy that meets that standard.

Social Policy

• Gambling Advertising: The Greens are pushing for a ban on gambling advertising, similar to tobacco advertising. The Prime Minister states that his government has done more to tackle problem gambling than any government since federation and will do more.
• Working From Home Policy: The Coalition has dropped its working from home policy after community feedback. Jane Hume's comment that the policy "just hasn't found its appropriate time" caused confusion. The Coalition clarifies that they will not introduce this policy in either the private or public sector.

Personnel and Internal Disagreements

• Jane Hume's Comments: Jane Hume's comments on the working from home policy created confusion and highlighted potential internal disagreements within the Coalition.
• Andrew Hasty's Role: Questions were raised about Andrew Hasty's limited frontline role since his reported comments about women in combat roles. Senator Patterson affirmed that Hasty is an outstanding colleague and will be more visible in the campaign.
• Women in Combat Roles: Senator Patterson clarified the Coalition's policy that any Australian who meets the physical standards should be allowed to fulfill any role in the defense force, including combat roles, irrespective of gender. He stated that this is also Andrew Hasty's position.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The political landscape is highly contested, with both major parties focusing on key issues like crime, cost of living, and national security. The Coalition is attempting to gain ground by emphasizing crime rates in Victoria and promising stronger action on defense, while the Labor government defends its record and highlights its efforts to address problem gambling and illegal activities. Internal disagreements and past statements continue to be scrutinized, shaping the narrative as the election approaches. The focus on early voting underscores the urgency for both parties to effectively communicate their policies and connect with voters quickly.