Coalition Underdog as Election Nears, Paterson Asserts on ABC News Breakfast
In an engaging discussion on ABC News Breakfast today, Senator James Paterson, the Coalition's campaign spokesman and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, addressed current political climates and Coalition strategies as the federal election draws near. Broadcasting from Sydney's Liberal HQ, Paterson faced a series of pointed questions from host James Glenday regarding the latest opinion polls and Coalition policies.
Paterson expressed confidence despite recent polls suggesting a slight voter sentiment shift towards the government. He emphasized the historic difficulty of unseating a first-term government, noting, "No first-term government has been removed from office in 100 years." He framed the upcoming election as a crucial decision for Australians, positing it as a choice between continuing under a potentially weakened Labor government or redirecting the country's future with the Coalition under Peter Dutton's leadership.
Addressing the Coalition’s perceived loss of ground in recent weeks, Paterson attributed this to aggressive tactics from the Labor Party, which he accused of targeting Dutton personally due to their unsatisfactory record over the past three years. He highlighted the severe decline in living standards, claiming Australians are "8% poorer today than when Anthony Albanese was elected."
Glenday questioned the feasibility of Labor forming a majority government, a scenario Paterson firmly dismissed, raising concerns about potential alliances with the Greens, whom he criticized harshly. He warned of the risks of a minority government influenced by what he described as a more extreme Greens party, suggesting it could lead to compromised national policies.
The discussion also touched on the Coalition's stance on referendums. Paterson confirmed there are no plans for any referendums, except as a last resort regarding citizenship cancellation for individuals convicted of terrorism, should judicial avenues fail.
Lastly, Paterson provided clarity on the Coalition's migration policies and hinted at upcoming policy announcements, including defense and energy strategies, as the election nears. He reiterated the Coalition's commitment to reducing the permanent migration cap, emphasizing its potential impact on easing the housing crisis.
As voting approaches, the Coalition appears poised to intensify its campaign, promising detailed policies and robust leadership under Peter Dutton to sway undecided voters.
