The Labor Party’s attacks against Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have ramped up as the government turns its focus to his property dealings ahead of the federal election.
After Mr Dutton faced allegations about his share trades during the global financial crisis, the Albanese government is now raising questions about his housing portfolio.
The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that over 35 years, Mr Dutton has made millions of dollars from property investments.
His real estate purchases reportedly totalled $12 million across as many as 26 pieces of property, including homes, childcare centres and a shopping plaza.
Labor Senator Murray Watt was quick to weigh in on the matter, arguing Mr Dutton was out of touch and accusing him of not understanding the nation’s housing struggles.
“It seems that Peter Dutton doesn’t have a sense of the need for housing to be built for other people rather than himself,” Mr Watt told Sky News.
“He’ll cut the fund that is building homes for Australians who need them, while at the same time, he’s out there acquiring his own property empire to put himself first.
“I remember a lot of noise being made about the Prime Minister buying one home. This guy’s been out there buying and selling thirty.”
It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was criticised for purchasing a $4.2 million luxury home in Copacabana, New South Wales.
However, while the personal attacks may work to sway some voters, Redbridge Group Director and polling expert Simon Welsh warned they can sometimes backfire.
“People hate this kind of personal attack … People are disengaging from … the major parties because all they hear is bickering and squabbling and game playing,” he said.
The opposition has since defended Mr Dutton, hitting back at the Labor Party over what it calls a “grubby smear campaign”.
“I think it’s the Labor Party’s dirt unit. They’re powering up their dirt unit. We’re seeing that this week,” deputy opposition leader Susan Ley told Sky News.
“Australians will look at what Peter has been able to achieve for himself and his family by working hard over many years and say, ‘That’s what I want for my family’.
“I think they’ll back a strong leader like Peter Dutton who has worked hard over a weak Prime Minister, who’s actually too gutless to carry this smear campaign himself.”
She continued to attack the government’s handling of national issues, saying the government was focusing on Mr Dutton instead of running the country.
“Where is the confidence Australians want to see in a Prime Minister who will deliver what he promised three years ago?
“Cheaper mortgages? No. Cheaper rentals? No. Absolutely nothing when it comes to cost of living relief. It’s pathetic.”
The Opposition Leader recently recounted how he made sacrifices growing up in order to secure his financial future, purchasing his first home at age 19.
“I am proud of it … You look back on what sacrifice you made for that, but for me, it allowed that dream to be achieved quickly,” Mr Dutton told Sky News host Peta Credlin.
“I saw homeownership as a pathway to improving my financial position.”
Mr Dutton expressed disappointment that young people face significant barriers to home ownership and said he wanted housing to be “front and centre” of his priorities.
