Federal election 2025: Peter Dutton goes it alone in dying days of campaign ahead of May 3 poll

Peter Dutton has launched a final blitz across marginal electorates as the Coalition revealed $14 billion in savings — but also a short-term blow to the Budget — in its long-awaited costings.

The Opposition Leader arrived in Adelaide on Thursday night to a warm welcome at a campaign rally after the financial blueprint behind the Liberals’ election promises was made public.

The Coalition’s plan promises to reduce Australia’s long-term debt by $40 billion, with $14b in projected savings over the next four years.

However, its commitments would increase the Budget deficit in the short term, with $7.8b in new spending expected to worsen the bottom line over the next two years — exceeding the forecasts in the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

While Mr Dutton focused on handshakes and his cost-of-living pitch — including fuel excise cuts and tax relief — across three States on Thursday, he left the task of selling the numbers to shadow treasurer Angus Taylor and shadow finance minister Jane Hume.

Mr Taylor said the costings demonstrated the Coalition’s commitment to responsible economic management.

“This is a $14b improvement — the biggest improvement seen since the current costing conventions came into place,” he said.

“We need to ensure we have a stronger Budget position than Labor’s, which we do — we’re not racking up unnecessary government debt. Most importantly, we’re growing the economy and backing small business to drive investment and growth. That’s what this economic plan is about.”

Much has been made by Labor of the Coalition’s nuclear power plans, with claims it would cost $600b, but Mr Taylor said just under $400 million had been allocated over the forward estimates.

“Then, over the medium term, there’s about $36b of equity investments that are all laid out here,” he said.

Both the Coalition and Labor waited until the last week of the campaign to release their costings and both leaders had their frontbenchers tell the story.

Mr Dutton is expected to campaign in Perth tomorrow, in a final appeal to undecided voters as D-Day looms, as he tries to visit 28 electorates during a frantic final week.

Despite criticism the Coalition’s campaign has been sluggish and light on detail, Mr Dutton has maintained his optimism.

Polls still favour Labor, but he remained confident, saying he was hoping to woo undecided voters.

“For most families, they haven’t even switched on to the election yet and there are still one in five soft voters,” he said.