<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>340980</docID> <postdate>2025-03-24 11:05:05</postdate> <headline>PM accuses opposition of lacking its own policies</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-340981" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250324196015378472-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Anthony Albanese has called on the coalition to "have something to say about policy". (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Kat Wong</strong> and <strong>Jack Gramenz</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>The prime minister hopes the budget cycle will force the opposition to show its cards as he confirmed Australians would go to the polls in May.</strong></p> <p>Ahead of the budget on Tuesday, the federal government has spruiked its cost-of-living relief efforts, announcing a $150 energy bill rebate in an extension of the $300 subsidy offered in the previous budget.</p> <p>Though Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called the plan a "Ponzi scheme", the coalition revealed it would support the measure, drawing criticism from the government.</p> <p>"The rhetoric that they use in attacking this means that they can't be secure," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Canberra on Monday.</p> <p>"Having opposed all of these things for almost three years - just to have said 'yes' - they've got to have something to say about policy and they don't have any of their own.</p> <p>"I look forward to some policy... coming out sometime between now and May."</p> <p>The opposition leader is promising a major announcement in Thursday's budget reply speech with immigration and housing likely to be areas of focus.</p> <p>Recent migration intakes had forced Australians out of the housing market while not enough homes were being built, Mr Dutton claimed.</p> <p>"It's meant that people are lining up for longer and paying more for rental properties," he told reporters.</p> <p>"It means that Australians have just given up on the dream of home ownership."</p> <p>Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has declined to say whether the coalition will stick with its previously-outlined target of reducing net overseas migration by 25 per cent.</p> <p>Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government was "managing" migration down and recent figures showed about 10,000 fewer people had arrived than anticipated.</p> <p>"The budget will update all of those forecasts but what they will show overall is the trajectory is down. That's deliberate," he told Sky News.</p> <p>The opposition is already expected to take public service cuts, nuclear power and tax deductions to the election with the prime minister widely tipped to visit the governor-general by Sunday to fire the starting gun for an early May poll.</p> <p>Recent YouGov polling showed Mr Albanese consolidating his lead as preferred prime minister, but still predicted a tight election with voters evenly split between Labor and the coalition once preferences are factored in.</p> <p>Crossbench senators Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock will on Monday call for gas exports to be diverted to the domestic market.</p> <p>"Most of our gas goes overseas and makes a bucket load of money for shareholders while Aussie businesses and householders are struggling to pay their power bills," Senator Lambie said.</p> <p>"It's time to stop protecting the gas cartel and start protecting Australians."</p> </body>