The Government has taken an Opposition attack line and sought to turn it back on leader Peter Dutton in a political fight over production tax credits aimed at winning voters in WA.
Resources Minister Madeleine King accused Mr Dutton of telling miners in WA one thing and colleagues in Canberra something different over critical minerals production tax credits, going on the attack as the Opposition Leader sought to hammer the notion the Government’s word cannot be trusted.
Debate over the policy backed by the critical minerals sector showed the battlelines each side is drawing ahead of a federal election expected to again hinge on results in WA.
Ms King seized on comments Mr Dutton made on the sidelines of Diggers and Dealers last week.
Asked about production tax credits, he said his party would “have more to say about the ways in which I think we can provide support” while highlighting slow approvals processes — read by the sector as a softening of the Coalition’s opposition to the critical minerals tax breaks.
But the next day, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor said the party had been “very clear” in its opposition to the tax credits.
The Resources Minister said Mr Dutton’s remark “may be a pithy catchphrase” but it would be more useful to critical minerals companies if the Opposition said yes to the tax credits.
“Western Australians — and indeed all Australians — can’t really believe a word that is said from those opposite,” Ms King said.
“The Leader of the Opposition says one thing on the west coast and a completely other thing here in Canberra, on the east coast.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers joined the attack, accusing the Coalition of having “collapsed in a shambolic and humiliating heap” over the policy.
Their line of attack sought to flip an accusation the opposition’s leadership has been making of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, that he gives different messages to different audiences.
Mr Dutton told a meeting of Liberal and National MPs in Canberra that people were learning “they simply can’t trust what (Mr Albanese) says” after two years.
“We all know in our party room that you can’t use the word ‘lying’ in Parliament, but for everyday Australians, indeed, in anybody’s definition, that’s exactly what this looks like,” he said.
“Labor are making mistakes, but we are staying the course.”
The Coalition party room formally resolved to oppose the Future Made in Australia legislation — a precursor to the production tax credits — with Mr Taylor describing it as a “slush fund” that arbitrarily excluded technologies including gas.
On the other side of politics, the Greens have signalled they too have concerns about the signature policy — including that it could be a “slush fund” to prolong gas. However, the minor party is yet to take a formal position.
For his part, Mr Albanese spent question time talking up the Government’s cost of living measures and the promises it has ticked off its election platform.
New wage data showed people’s pay packers grew an average of 4.1 per cent in the year to June — a level not seen since before the global financial crisis.
The Prime Minister told colleagues the Government was nearing “the business end of this parliamentary term” and voters should be able to see a clear choice between Labor and an opposition “that is addicted to saying no”.