Federal Election 2025: Dutton lands in Perth with $600m pledge for infrastructure, mining & agriculture

Peter Dutton has landed in Perth promising millions of dollars to WA’s key industries during his first visit to the State since the campaign officially began. The Opposition Leader said he wanted the State to continue to be the powerhouse of the nation’s economy but said it needed a government that played to WA’s strengths, not worked against it. “Unfortunately, crucial industries like mining and agriculture are under threat from an Albanese Labor Government that is more interested in appeasing inner-city Greens activists, than the prosperity of our nation,” Mr Dutton said. The Coalition will announce $600 million for a new “Ag and Mining Roads” fund at a campaign event with industry leaders on Thursday. The money will be spent over four years to upgrade roads critical to getting products into domestic and export markets, and will be granted after consultation with truckies, miners and farmers — though it is not yet decided how much would be allocated to WA. “Australia relies on the strength of our mining and agricultural sectors — but they can’t operate at full potential when the roads connecting them to markets are not up to scratch,” Mr Dutton said. “That’s why this announcement is so important to WA infrastructure and investment.” Mr Dutton landed in Perth on Wednesday afternoon and wasted no time heading to battleground seats, attending the campaign launch for Liberal candidate for Pearce Jan Norberger in Wanneroo. He denied Labor and Anthony Albanese, who was in Perth on Monday, had gotten a step ahead in the battle for WA votes. “Not at all, I think Labor’s fallen behind in WA,” Mr Dutton told The West. “Because I don’t think they’ve taken people in the electorate of Pearce seriously and we’ve got a great candidate, he’ll do a fantastic job.” The Opposition leader pledged $1 million towards a business case for a new hospital in Yanchep. “The reality in Pearce is that there has been a 20 per cent drop in bulk billing rates over the course of the last three years,” he told a crowd of party supporters. “That’s the Labor legacy in Pearce and it is a shame. “We want to change that and we know there are growing pains within this local community as the population grows.” The West understands Mr Dutton’s Perth visit will be focused on resources and mining. Senior Labor figures believe they have momentum in Western Australia, after campaigning in Hasluck on Monday, and after The West revealed the Prime Minister will hold Labor’s official campaign launch in Perth on April 13. But Liberal insiders have scoffed at Mr Albanese’s claim 30 visits to the west is proof he is more committed to WA than Mr Dutton, and insisted there is still plenty of time before polling day on May 3. Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash remained confident about the party’s chances in key WA seats. “Albanese is all talk and no show when he comes to WA,” she said. “Peter is excited about the opportunity to spend time in WA and talk about his practical plans for the State.” The West understands Mr Dutton will follow in the Prime Minister’s footsteps on Thursday, visiting Midvale in the seat of Hasluck. Hasluck, with a 10 per cent margin, was one of four Labor gains in WA in 2022. Opinion polls tipping a tight race, or minority government, mean the WA seats that switched in 2022 - Hasluck, Tangney, Swan and Pearce - could again decide who the nation’s leader is. Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh was confident Labor could hold onto all four gains. “We don’t take anything for granted,” he told reporters on Wednesday. He cited Labor’s record in Federal and State Governments, but also urged voters to consider Mr Dutton’s record on the GST. “You’ve got a Labor government federally that’s committed to protecting that WA GST deal and a leader of the opposition in Peter Dutton, who is on the record as being opposed to that deal when it has gone to cabinet,” Mr Keogh said. “That’s something I think Western Australians very well understand and really it’s for Peter Dutton to explain his position on that, but he hasn’t shown up in WA during this election yet so I guess we’ll just have to wait.” Mr Dutton is expected to come under pressure during his visit over his pledge to can support for WA’s critical minerals sector, with Angus Taylor on Wednesday again labelling the $17 billion production tax credit as “corporate welfare”. Mr Dutton has vowed to repeal it. If elected, the Coalition will also allow a Morrison-era critical minerals financing body to support east coast gas projects by designating gas as a critical mineral, shadow resources minister Susan McDonald announced on Wednesday. The Critical Minerals Facility has backed Iluka and EcoGraf projects in WA and the Arafura rare earths project. Resources Minister Madeleine King claimed the Coalition’s move to allow gas to also access the fund alongside critical minerals projects effectively stripped $21 billion out of the growing sector, asking, “Is this bloke for real?” An Arafura spokesperson described the fund as “particularly vital for fledgling industries” where there were underdeveloped expertise, supply chains and markets.