
MELBOURNE, 21 May, 2024: Australia is gearing up for the 2024 Federal election, about two months away. Prime Minister Antony Albanese’s last budget recently, was described as a ‘political budget’ by the opposition shadow treasurer. The sweeteners by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, including the energy bonus, HECS rebate, cheaper medicines and tax cuts are seen by the coalition as geared to woo the electorate. Not to be left behind Peter Dutton’s response to Labor came at the 2024 Multicultural Dinner today at the Springwale Town Hall.
The dinner massively attended by people from diverse communities (non- Anglo Saxon), Peter Dutton in his short but compact speech described the Libs as a party of families and entrepreneurs, embedded in Australia’s democratic system. He took on the PM, saying in these uncertain times, “he cannot make tough decisions’. He said home ownership should be achievable and the Labor government should not interfere in schools about what they want to do.
On the contentious immigration issue, on which he recently talked of cutting 25 % migration to solve the housing crisis, Peter Dutton softly said, ” the migration system should be well-managed”. No mention of 25 % cut, an issue that goes into the heart of multicultural communities and those dealing with international students. One reluctantly talking education provider said this cannot solve the housing crisis. Probably, the crowd did not understand what a ‘well-managed’ migration system meant. Or, the words were lost in the rather festive dinner evening’s charms.
Criticising the Greens and the Liberals on housing and other issues crisis, PM Antony Albanese had at the recent 2024 Victorian Labor State Conference said, ” The Liberals have a pathological problem with affordable housing, always have. And while the Greens political party may talk a lot about housing – the only thing they want to build is their profile. They vote against building more homes in the Parliament.”
About international students he said, “Universities will continue to benefit from student demand – provided they contribute to housing supply.”
The quiet visibly networking multicultural dinner gave plenty of opportunities to true believers scouting for selfies and photos with Peter Dutton. Would be candidates were around with the stage swarmed with blue folding banners. Tickets were $ 80 per head and plenty of items auctioned. The stage set for the upcoming political battle.
No doubt, the heat and dust of the budget including the housing debates, could lay the foundation of issues emerging for the 2024 Federal election. The multicultural communities have emerged strong and have a clout across Australia, one has to wait and see if a few can get through the political wall that separates them from mainstream Australia.