Dutton makes personal pitch at Coalition campaign rally
Liberal leader Peter Dutton has made a personal pitch to voters and promised to rein in government spending at the Coalitionâs first campaign rally ahead of the federal election.
Addressing the party faithful in the marginal Labor-held electorate of Chisholm in Melbourneâs east, Dutton accused Labor of disregarding everyday Australians and described the looming poll as a last chance to âreverse the declineâ.
Saying he wanted no Australian to be âleft wondering what the Coalition stands forâ, Dutton highlighted his outer-suburban, working-class upbringing and background as a small-business owner and police officer.
He vowed to â[restore] the dreamâ of home ownership for struggling Australians and promised a Coalition government would not seek to cut funding for Medicare.
Linking the nationâs housing crisis to migration, Dutton promised to reduce government spending and accused Labor of âacting like an opposition while in governmentâ.
He painted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a career politician heading a weak government while the nation needed strength.
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âMr Albanese, who loves fighting Tories and who always plays the man and not the ball, has characterised this election for Australians as a âfuture warâ,â Dutton said.
âFor him, what matters most is the political victory, whereas I want our country to be victorious.â
Nationals leader David Littleproud and new Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin were among more than 100 attendees, along with federal deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley and senators James Paterson, Michaelia Cash and Jane Hume.
It was Duttonâs first major event for the new year after Albanese launched an early campaign blitz last week.
The Coalition is seeking to defy almost 100 years of political history by unseating a first-term government at the election, which must be held by May 17.
Former MP Katie Allen is running for the Liberals in Chisholm. The party of that seatâs winner has also won government since 2016.
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Outside, protesters set up a giant orange blow-up fish with three eyes, in reference to the oppositionâs nuclear push.
The group of about 20 unionists and community members chanted for action on renewable energy as guests arrived at the event.
Griffith University associate professor Paul Williams said Albaneseâs decision to campaign aggressively early in the new year was a likely indicator that Labor was worried it would lose seats.
âLabor is fearful that the damage is going to be substantial, so theyâve come out hoping to catch the LNP napping,â the political analyst said.
âCampaigning in January, full stop, is usually considered a moot point because people arenât paying attention.â
Williams said Dutton holding a campaign event in Chisholm highlighted the Coalitionâs shift away from traditional strongholds like Queensland.
âThe keys to The Lodge lie in three places â Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne,â Williams said.
He said the Albanese government had adopted a âbig targetâ approach, focusing on achievements such as establishing a National Integrity Commission, wage increases for low-income workers and housing reforms.
However, cost-of-living issues are expected to dominate the federal campaign.
âIt will be what we call a material election, meaning itâs going to be kitchen-table economics,â Williams said.
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