Commentary
The lot of a first-term opposition leader is hell on earth. No matter what initiative is promoted, the cry will be: “Well, why didn’t you do it while in government?” And, of course, every problem the new government faces is the fault of the previous government, which left everything financially booby-trapped.
On top of that, there is the unpopularity suggested by the polls, which means there is a deficit of political capital to expend should needed, yet difficult, policies be explored.
And so it was with Peter Dutton’s Budget-in-Reply speech.
With the weight of opposition and less than encouraging opinion polls with which to contend, Dutton strode into parliament to lay down a partial blueprint of a future Coalition government….