Australian opposition drops 'Trumpian' campaign pledges as election nears

Peter Dutton says call to stop public servants working from home was a 'mistake'

Commuters move through a Sydney railway station on Jan. 15. Australians will head to the polls for a key election in early May. © Getty Images

SHAUN TURTON

April 7, 2025 17:23 JST

SYDNEY -- Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton has walked back campaign pledges to slash public service jobs and force government employees back to the office, a move observers say underscores the distaste of "Trumpian" policies in the nation as it gears up for a key May 3 election.

Dutton, the leader of the Liberal-National Coalition, told Australian media outlet Channel 9 that its previous stance on ending work-from-home arrangements for government workers had been an error.