Dutton refuses to rule out ABC cuts and repeatedly declines meeting with chair Kim Williams, sources say

Opposition leader still won’t say which jobs will be cut in plan to slash 41,000 public sector positions

• Election 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaign
• Polls tracker; election guide; full federal election coverage
• Anywhere but Canberra; interactive electorates guide
• Listen to the first episode of our new narrative podcast series: Gina
• Get our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcast

Peter Dutton has not ruled out cuts to the ABC and is still refusing to say which public servants will be axed as part of his plan to slash 41,000 jobs, despite repeating concern about Australians struggling to pay bills.

Dutton swerved questions on Wednesday about where and how he would trim what he dubbed “waste” in the federal government, but he committed to releasing costings on his public service cuts before the election on 3 May.

Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter