The Albanese Government’s jobs and skill summit follows similar get-togethers hosted by previous prime ministers such as Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd aimed at considering ideas to boost the nation’s economic performance and improve the quality of life of Australians. The Bug sat down with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to discuss the event.

The Bug: Thanks for agreeing to this interview.

PD: The Albanese Government has failed. It has failed….

The Bug: Sorry, I haven’t actually….

PD: Started?

The Bug: Yes, I haven’t actually started yet.

PD: Just like the Albanese Government. I mean what has it done? It’s had almost two months in office – two months, mind you – and what has it done?

The Bug: Well, it’s succeeded in having emissions reduction laws passed by the lower house and sent to the Senate after almost a decade on inaction under your government.

PD: Exactly. My point entirely. It’s done nothing.

The Bug: Well, it’s also managed to have its foreign minister visit the Pacific island nations a couple of times, plus the PM himself. It’s started the ball rolling on constitutional recognition of First Nations. It’s moved to fix the aged care crisis. It’s launched a defence strategic review. It’s….

PD: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. My points entirely. It’s done nothing.

The Bug: There are lots of other things it’s done in a very short time. But my focus today is on the government’s  jobs and skills summit.

PD: Oh yes, indeed. Let me just begin by saying I was very grateful that Prime Minister Albanese issued an invitation to me to attend the summit.

The Bug: Yes, he said it should be a bipartisan event to discuss the big issues confronting the nation and its future.

PD: Indeed. I fully agree.

The Bug: Why would you attack…. Wait. What? You agree? With a bipartisan summit? Maybe even a non-partisan summit?

PD: Yes. One hundred percent. After all it’s the future of our nation and the future of generations to come that are at stake.

The Bug: Well I must say I’m….

PD: It’s just a real pity it failed.

The Bug: Sorry?

PD: It’s a pity the summit failed when even I had such high hopes for it. It’s just a union-dominated woke talkfest and the ideas coming out of it will wreck our economy, destroy jobs, push up inflation and interest rates, and….

The Bug: You do know the summit isn’t being held until next month?

PD: Exactly. My point entirely. The Albanese Government has had almost eight weeks to hold a jobs and skill summit and has failed to do so. I said the government would fail and I’m right. It has failed……

The Bug: I think we’ll leave it there. Thanks for your time Mr Dutton.

PD: ….. and it will continue to fail. The union-dominated so-called bi-partisan summit….