‘Dangerous’: Treasurer blasts ‘divisive’ Dutton
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has used a speech on social cohesion to brand Peter Dutton the most divisive major party leader in Australian history, claiming he “divides deliberately, almost pathologically”.
The federal treasurer made the claim in an address to the Labor Party faithful on Monday night in Melbourne, nine months out from the 2025 federal election.
Dr Chalmers said federal Labor’s primary focus was on challenges in the economy and easing cost of living pressures for Australians.
And while Australian politics was relatively free of political violence, it can’t be taken for granted and relies on leadership that avoids the politics of division.
“Leadership can help us become an island of decency and opportunity in a sea of uncertainty and division,” Chalmers said as he delivered the 2024 Curtin Oration.
“But leadership which is destructive, and divisive, is not really leadership at all.
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“And that’s what we are seeing from Peter Dutton.
“He is the most divisive leader of a major political party in Australia’s modern history – and not by accident, by choice.”
Chalmers accused Dutton of embracing division.
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“It is the only plank in his political platform,” he said in his speech at the John Curtin Research Centre.
“He divides deliberately, almost pathologically.
“This is worse than disappointing, it is dangerous. His divisiveness should be disqualifying.”
Chalmers did not elaborate on what he meant by “disqualifying”.
Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley today accused Chalmers of hypocrisy.
“Divisive is to unleash the voice, spend $500 million and then say that if you vote no, you’re a bad person – that’s divisive,” she said.
“I feel a bit sorry for Jim Chalmers, he spent his whole life planning and plotting in Labor’s factual queue, only to come up with this sort of stuff.
“He’s got a PhD in politics, not economics, and that’s on full display.”
– AAP
