00:00Snagging a Senate seat was always going to be a tall order for Jacob Vadikedit.
00:09But when Peter Dutton dropped this bombshell last week.
00:13You have the policy of reducing the public service by 41,000 places.
00:16In Canberra, we're not reducing the public service.
00:18We've been very clear about that from day one.
00:20The task before the Liberal candidate became that much harder.
00:24Now, with just two days to go, Mr Vadikedit has broken ranks.
00:29Telling a panel discussion of Senate candidates.
00:3341,000 just from Canberra, it's unrealistic and it's not practical.
00:39That's exactly why he says the ACT needs a Liberal Senator in the party room.
00:45And I will stand up and I will strongly argue the case for Canberra.
00:50A brutal dose of reality compliments of Labor Senator Katie Gallagher swiftly followed.
00:56I think it's a good commitment from you.
00:59But I doubt very much that Peter Dutton will listen to one word you have to say about this
01:04because he's made it very clear.
01:06The Coalition's plan would see $17 billion in savings banked over four years with assurances, national security and frontline jobs will be spared.
01:18And today, more clarity about how exactly the target will be hit.
01:23We're not expecting voluntary redundancies and natural attrition and hiring freeze should get us there.
01:28It means entire departments abolished.
01:30I mean, if you put PM and C, Treasury and Finance together, you just tip 5,000.
01:36So you've got to abolish all of those departments and then find another 35,000 jobs.
01:43Independent Senator David Pocock was quick to point out Canberra has a long history of being shortchanged,
01:51even with Liberal representation in the Senate.
01:54It's a great thing that Jacob is saying that he'll stand up for the ACT,
01:58but I think you have to look at history and say,
02:00well, that's probably not going to change things
02:02when it comes to actually valuing us and investment.
02:05And this late in the game,
02:07Mr. Vadakedit's defiance may have little impact come election day.
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