It wouldn’t be the lead-up to Christmas in Australia without conservative outrage that January 26 celebrations might be cancelled.
Before he went on leave Wednesday morning, Peter Dutton made one last press conference appearance, and he didn’t disappoint: high up on his list of grievances was a professed sense of horror at the idea that Australia Day celebrations are being undermined.
Facing reporters in Melbourne, Dutton suggested that the high commissioner in London should quit over his failure to guarantee the national day would be celebrated in the usual fashion.
“I think the high commissioner in London — if he’s not prepared to celebrate Australia Day, if he’s ashamed of Australia Day — then, frankly, I think he should be looking for a new job,” Dutton said.
In the minds of Dutton’s team, the lead-up to Christmas has offered a rich buffet of topics over which to attack the government. There is a cost-of-living crisis and high rates, and Wednesday’s mid-year economic and fiscal outlook report gave the opposition no reason to think those attack lines would become blunted.
There was also the High Court’s immigration detention decision, which came as an early Christmas present to the opposition and which continues to be an effective issue to hammer the government over.
Dutton has reasons to feel good about the political year he’s had, an insider told Crikey, given his No side in the Voice to Parliament debate prevailed. Riding high off that win, Dutton was able to use the High Court decision to effectively set the policy agenda in the final few sitting weeks of the year.
At the press conference, Dutton even made a derisive reference to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese being on holiday, even though his own preparations to take leave were well underway. He’s nothing if not cheeky.
When Albanese returns to work on Thursday, Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley will be steering the opposition. She’s understood to be planning to continue exploring the same themes Dutton did in his final weeks of work, particularly the cost of living.
Are you still celebrating Australia Day? Or have you joined the boycott? Let us know by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
