Dutton the Dud! By James Reed
Peter Dutton has long branded himself as a tough-on-immigration politician, but his actual record tells a different story. Instead of leading the fight to drastically cut immigration and protect Australian jobs, housing, and infrastructure, Dutton has repeatedly failed to address the core issues that are fuelling mass migration and undermining the quality of life for Australians, as George Christensen argues:
https://nationfirst.substack.com/p/duttons-dud-strategy
As Minister for Home Affairs from 2014 to 2021, Dutton oversaw record-high migration levels, which strained public services, pushed up housing costs, and suppressed wages for working Australians. While he cracked down on individual cases of deportation, the broader problem—skyrocketing migration numbers—was left largely untouched. Under his watch, the number of bridging visas exploded, meaning tens of thousands of people who should have been deported remained in the country indefinitely. International students began gaming the system by applying for protection visas to stay longer, a loophole that was never properly closed. Australia's population ballooned without the infrastructure to support it, making life harder for everyday Australians.
Now, as opposition leader, Dutton is again failing to take a strong enough stance. His proposal to reduce permanent migration to 140,000 a year is far too little, too late. Australia is currently dealing with immigration levels exceeding 500,000 people per year, contributing to the housing crisis and overstretching hospitals, schools, and roads. Simply shaving off a small percentage of that intake is not a solution—it's a band-aid on a bullet wound.
Dutton has also been inconsistent on key immigration policies. He opposed the Albanese government's plan to cap international students at 270,000 per year—despite the fact that these students are flooding the rental market and driving up costs for locals. If Dutton were serious about fixing the problem, he would support a drastic cut to student visas, rather than playing politics and pandering to the education industry. Even his call for migration cuts is half-hearted. Real leadership would mean cutting permanent migration to below 70,000 per year, ending visa rorts, including student and protection visa abuses, prioritising Australian workers over cheap imported labor, and stopping foreign buyers and new migrants from snapping up Australian homes.
Australians are fed up with mass migration, yet Dutton continues to offer half-measures instead of bold action. If he truly wanted to protect Australian jobs, homes, and public services, he would call for a migration freeze—not a weak reduction that barely scratches the surface. Until he takes a real stand, he remains part of the problem, not the solution.
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