Dear Prime Minister,

Contained within your election acceptance speech on May 21, 2022, was the following statement/pledge:

‘I want to seek our common purpose and promote unity and not fear and – optimism, not fear and division. It is what I have sought to do throughout my political life. And what I will bring to the leadership of our country, it is a show of strength to collaborate and work with people, not weakness.’

In addition, you made the following promise:

‘And I can promise all Australians this – no matter how you voted today, the government I lead will respect every one of you every day. And I’ll seek to get your vote next time.’

At the final count, 4,776,030 voters voted for the Labor Party and 5,233,334 voted for the Coalition. The Labor Party was able to form government based on preference voting.

The Westminster convention is that the Prime Minister governs from the centre in a symbolic and practical sense; symbolically, he or she sits at the central table in the House of Representatives, and practically, their government’s policies are often developed with an aim to secure support from the political centre of the electorate to maintain power.

As you alluded to in your acceptance speech, you recognised the need for your government to formulate policies that would benefit the majority of Australians, or did you?

To do this effectively, it is necessary for you, as the Prime Minister, to step away from your personal political beliefs and govern for all Australians.

On May 3 this year, during your acceptance speech, you again made a pledge to the Australian people:

‘This is a time of profound opportunity for our nation. We have everything we need to seize this moment and make it our own. And we must do it together, all of us. Because for Australia to realise our full potential, for our nation to be its very best, every Australian must have the opportunity to be their best.

‘To serve our Australian values, we must value every Australian and Labor will govern for every Australian.’

The Labor Party primary vote for your second term was 35.7 per cent compared with 34.5 per cent in 2022. Both primary votes were close to one-third of voters.

It is with great concern that I write to you to point out that both your acceptance speech promises have not been met.

There is an obvious correlation between a great Prime Minister and a successful economy.

Your tenure has been marred by seven quarters of negative growth, resulting in Australia finding itself in a recession – except for the substantial influx of migrants.

A glaring example of your leadership is the untenable housing situation. Migrants are entering the nation at an astonishing rate of 8,000 per week or approximately 500,000 per annum, despite numerous calls to curtail this intake. Only 8 per cent of the intake are skilled.

Your pronouncement regarding the government’s intention to construct 1.2 million homes over the next three years is, frankly, ludicrous. To date, only 340 homes have been completed.

Since your ascent to the prime ministership, over 29,500 businesses have ‘failed’, a significant proportion hailing from the construction and hospitality sectors.

These construction enterprises are precisely the ones you require to achieve the ambitious goal of building 1.2 million homes. Yet, the influx of migrants continues unabated, at half a million each year.

Regarding government subsidies, your government perpetuates the same illogical trajectory as observed in the housing crisis. Initially, Labor provided subsidies to investors for financing and constructing solar and wind infrastructure. Additionally, homeowners received incentives to install solar panels and batteries. I refer to the ‘small-scale technology certificates’ and the ‘renewable energy target’, both of which are slated to continue until 2030.

Moreover, the ‘capacity investment scheme’ has been established, partly to accommodate the closure of fossil fuel-based generation, and partly to underwrite wind and solar profits. The Labor government is subsidising coal plants to remain operational.

The Future Made in Australia scheme has allocated $22 million in the budget, much of which is earmarked to guarantee profitability for commercial wind and solar projects. Given the intermittent nature of wind and solar energy, your government has devised arrangements that afford these facilities a ‘best wholesale’ price advantage. This, in turn, escalates the cost of generation to unprecedented levels, a stark contrast to when coal operated continuously.

The exorbitant price of electricity, which encompasses billions allocated to ‘rewire the nation’. necessitates subsidies for consumers. Despite these extensive, ‘Round Robin’ of taxpayer-funded subsidies, consumer costs have doubled.

This myriad of subsidies has forced the government to consider raising additional funds, mostly in very unpopular ways.

Businesses are ceasing operations, manufacturing is vacating the country, and Australia’s wealth is under siege.

In light of the formidable challenges we face, it is imperative that you undertake corrective measures to realign the government with the centre of the electorate. The trust of the Australian populace is precarious, and every unfulfilled promise further alienates them from your leadership.

Your government’s approach to managing immigration and regulating housing requires immediate rectification.

Equally urgent is the issue of energy policy. Australians demand a reliable energy supply that harmonises sustainability with affordability. It is time to reassess our investment strategies. Rather than funnelling resources into subsidies for renewable projects that have yet to yield tangible benefits for the average consumer, we should prioritise infrastructure and technologies that ensure stable energy prices without imposing exorbitant burdens on taxpayers.

Moreover, the palpable discontent within the business community should serve as a clarion call. The closure of thousands of businesses ought to act as a wake-up call.

Legislating a Net Zero timeframe is destroying our economy. By recalibrating your focus towards the economic needs of all Australians, you can restore some faith in your leadership.

Ultimately, the government must embody a unifying vision that transcends partisan divides. Australians expect their leaders to rise above ideology and deliver pragmatic solutions that enhance the quality of life for all. It is essential that you recommit to the core values of our nation and guide us toward a more prosperous future.

David Gardner, MTG Think Tank