Treasurer Jim Chalmers has launched a fierce attack on opposition leader Peter Dutton, calling him “the most divisive leader of a major political party in Australia’s modern history.” Chalmers’ comments came during his annual John Curtin Oration in Melbourne, which commemorated the anniversary of John Curtin’s 1943 Labor landslide victory. The treasurer used the occasion not only to criticize Dutton’s leadership style but also to defend the economic track record of the Labor government.
In his speech, Chalmers accused Dutton of engaging in “culture wars,” exploiting social divisions for political gain, and using dog-whistle tactics to stoke fears among Australians. “At a time when most sane people see political divisiveness around the world and want to reject it, he wants to embrace it. It is the only plank in his political platform,” Chalmers said. “This is worse than disappointing, it is dangerous.”
Chalmers argued that Dutton’s approach to politics has been harmful to Australia’s social fabric, accusing the opposition leader of deliberately fostering an “us versus them” mentality. According to Chalmers, Dutton’s political strategy focuses on deepening cultural and social rifts for short-term political gains, rather than seeking to unite Australians.
The treasurer’s remarks came against the backdrop of a heated debate over the Australian government’s handling of visas for Palestinians fleeing the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In recent weeks, the opposition has accused the government of compromising Australia’s national security by issuing visas to nearly 3,000 people from the occupied Palestinian territories since 7 October 2023. The opposition claims that the visas were granted too quickly and that the necessary security checks were insufficient, a narrative Dutton’s party has pushed aggressively.
Chalmers directly addressed this line of criticism, accusing Dutton of using the visa issue to further divide the country. “Our job as leaders is to heal divisions in our society. Dutton wants to pick at them and prey on them for political advantage,” Chalmers said. “And we saw last week, his dog whistle only plays one note. Every question in Question Time last week was about the Middle East, and not one about middle Australia.”
Chalmers used his speech to draw a broader connection between rising global tensions and economic instability, warning that economic dislocation is often the root cause of violence and unrest. He pointed to the importance of keeping Australia free from the kind of political violence that has plagued other nations, stressing that Australia’s political heritage is one of relative peace and cohesion.
“Australia is fortunate with our history and heritage, the politics we’ve chosen relatively free of political violence, and the more mobile society we’ve built together. But we can’t take this for granted,” Chalmers said.
He then shifted his focus to the opposition’s economic credentials, or lack thereof, in his view. Chalmers argued that Dutton’s focus on national security and culture wars is a distraction from his inability to address Australia’s economic challenges. “He picks fights and stokes division on national security because he’s got no idea about economics,” the treasurer claimed.
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Chalmers acknowledged the economic difficulties Australians are currently facing, citing flat growth, rising inflation, and a sluggish retail sector. The jobless rate in July rose to 4.2%, the highest since January 2022, and rising costs for rent and mortgage repayments have further strained household finances.
“We have made very substantial progress in the budget and the economy, but we know people are still doing it tough,” Chalmers said. “We’ve made good headway on inflation, but it’s stickier than we’d like.”
Despite these challenges, Chalmers defended the government’s overall economic performance, pointing to key achievements such as halving inflation from its peak and creating nearly a million new jobs. He also highlighted that real wages have started to grow, and that Labor’s decision to modify the controversial stage three tax cuts has provided relief to taxpayers.
“The judgment I’m proudest of as treasurer was the change we made to the tax cuts so that every taxpayer now gets one,” he said, referring to the government’s decision to revise the originally planned tax cuts, which had been a contentious issue within the party. He characterized the decision as a difficult but necessary “line-ball political call,” describing it as “an economic no-brainer.”
Chalmers’ speech reflects the ongoing political clash between Labor and the opposition, with the government defending its economic record while accusing the opposition of fostering division at a time when national unity is needed most. Whether this approach will resonate with voters remains to be seen as both parties gear up for the next election.
