In the second week of Australia’s 2025 federal election campaign, opposition leader Peter Dutton reversed key policy positions amid widespread criticism. He scrapped plans to restrict public service remote work and to cut 41,000 government jobs, instead proposing a gradual workforce reduction through attrition with no forced redundancies.

This policy U-turn dominated headlines alongside economic turmoil triggered by Donald Trump’s new tariff regime, which led to a $160 billion drop in the ASX 200 and the Australian dollar plummeting to a five-year low. Despite these setbacks, Treasury has not forecast a recession. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, meanwhile, continued campaign efforts in Melbourne, promoting a $2 billion upgrade to Sunshine station. In other campaign developments, Liberal candidate Ben Britton was removed due to controversial past comments, and scrutiny emerged over Kooyong candidate Amelia Hamer’s property ownership. Dutton also reaffirmed his commitment to halving fuel excise, offering 25c per litre savings, a focal point of his campaign. These political shifts and economic uncertainties are shaping the election narrative as voters assess party leadership and policy credibility.