Dutton backflip plays into Albo’s hands
Peter Dutton’s promise to force public sector workers in Canberra back to the office should have been an easy win for the Opposition Leader.
But it backfired spectacularly, largely because Labor managed to convince the public that the Coalition’s policy would spread to the private sector.
The truth is this policy impacted only a minuscule percentage of the Australian workforce; a percentage that most people would agree should probably not be working from home.
But Dutton simply couldn’t sell the right message and couldn’t cut through.
Labor meanwhile implemented a scare campaign that worked, and Dutton was left with no option but to backflip on the policy, a major setback in what has already been a dire start to his campaign.
It’s also a sign that Dutton needs to pull back on the Trump-lite tactics.
If the Coalition went into this election thinking it could run a campaign similar to what Donald Trump produced in the United States, it has read the room wrong.
It is true that Australians are over woke politics, and want someone with the strength of their convictions to ensure the country is in strong hands.
But it has never said it wanted Donald Trump II. Even those on the most right of politics in Australia would acknowledge that many of Trump’s policies are dangerous and concerning.
A carbon copy campaign was never going to work.
Mulgoa Road a real test for Albanese
The Coalition’s announcement last week that it would complete the final leg of the Mulgoa Road upgrade via a $117.5 million commitment was a big win for Lindsay MP Melissa McIntosh.
But as this campaign rolls on, it will say a lot about Anthony Albanese and Labor’s commitment to Lindsay.
Labor has been completely lost on Mulgoa Road ever since it won the election back in 2022.
In 2023, it cut funding to Stage 2 of the project, as well as Stage 5A and 5B.
It was a ridiculous decision given the importance of this upgrade to a key area associated not only with population growth but the incoming airport at Badgerys Creek.
And Labor acknowledged that in 2024 when it backflipped on its decision to axe the funding to Stage 2 and restored it.
But it left Stage 5A and 5B in limbo, with the Coalition now saying it will finish the job if elected.
Politics aside, Labor must match this funding. It will be a slap in the face to Lindsay candidate Hollie McLean if Anthony Albanese doesn’t come to the table on it.
And if Labor refuses to back the project, it will prove it is not serious about Lindsay at this election. Can’t win the seat, won’t spend the money.
If Labor doesn’t have proper knowledge on Mulgoa Road then it must refer to someone who does. It needs to get on the ground locally, realise what everyone already knows, and commit to the funding it stripped two years ago.
This could be Labor’s biggest test in Lindsay.
The last campaign like this
I looked up at the TV screen that sits above my computer last week and spotted Anthony Albanese nursing a baby in an election photo opportunity I thought disappeared long ago.
The next day Peter Dutton was kicking a football in a suit, managing to land his kick on the head of a camera man who needed medical attention.
Yawn.
Can we make this the last election campaign where this stuff is a regular part of the routine?
Nobody is buying it.
Nobody thinks Peter Dutton is desperate to kick a Sherrin so he can feel like he’s in the midst of whatever announcement he’s making.
Nobody is looking at Albo thinking his softer side has just emerged because he’s holding a baby he met two minutes ago.
News cycles have changed, people have changed. The stunts just don’t hit anymore.
And just on that, I’m not sure either major political party has really adapted to the changing nature of news in this country.
If you’re not on the bus (the physical campaign bus, that is), you don’t matter, tends to be the scenario.
But with independent, smaller media outlets growing and the obvious influencer impact, parties need to work on expanding their reach and thinking beyond the norms of 20 years ago, which I can assure you, hasn’t been happening.
Let’s call debate a draw
I don’t think either Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton could call themselves victorious after the first debate of the campaign on Tuesday night.
Dutton landed a particularly strong blow when he asked an audience member if they’d needed their credit card as well as their Medicare card the last time they visited the doctor.
But there was too much waffle from Dutton, who is far better with shorter, sharper answers than he is long explanations.
Albanese did well at endearing himself to the crowd and certainly sold long-term cost-of-living relief better.
The audience on the night gave the debate to Albo.
That’s probably a concern for the Dutton camp, given Opposition Leaders usually have the inside running on these things.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.