In late 2024, Peter Dutton was riding high, with polls signaling a potential prime ministerial victory and his anti-Labor rhetoric gaining traction. Christmas promised extra cheer. Yet, just four months later, his path to power has unraveled. Policy blunders, public outcry, and tactical missteps have eroded his once-firm grip on the top job. With the election three weeks away, the polls that once favored him now bite back. What derailed his campaign? Here’s how it fell apart:
Controversial Policy Proposals
Dutton’s embrace of policies perceived as “Trump-style” – and out of touch – alienated voters. His push to ban work-from-home arrangements for public servants and cut 40,000 public sector jobs sparked significant criticism, especially among women and younger voters who value flexibility. His backflip on the work-from-home policy, admitting it was a mistake, further damaged his credibility, signaling indecision.
Nuclear Power Pushback
Dutton’s advocacy for nuclear energy as a long-term solution failed to resonate. Critics highlighted its high costs and unrealistic timelines, with experts questioning feasibility. This policy was overshadowed by Labor’s focus on immediate cost-of-living relief, making Dutton’s vision seem speculative and disconnected.
Personal and Financial Scrutiny
Revelations about Dutton’s share portfolio and property investments raised questions about his relatability and integrity. Allegations of insider trading, though unproven, reignited perceptions of him as being privileged, which clashed with his “everyman” image. These issues lingered, hurting his authenticity in a campaign where trust matters.
Campaign Missteps
Dutton’s campaign has lacked the sharpness of Albanese’s. His limited public engagements – often in controlled settings (such as his numerous visits to service stations) – contrasted with Albanese’s confident, visible presence, such as rallying voters in Dutton’s own electorate. Internal Coalition dissent and a perceived weak performance from shadow treasurer Angus Taylor further eroded confidence in Dutton’s leadership.
Labor’s Strategic Gains
Labor exploited Dutton’s missteps, while raising concerns that his policies were straight from the Trump Administration’s playbook, while their emphasis on Medicare, education, and childcare struck a chord with voters focused on necessities. By mid-March, Albanese’s approval rating climbed to 46%, while Dutton’s plummeted. Labor’s two-party-preferred lead hit 51%-49% in YouGov polls, with the gap widening to 52%-48% in recent surveys as Dutton’s attempts to recover faltered.
Global Context and Trump Association
Dutton’s earlier alignment with conservative figures like Trump backfired as most Australians viewed Trump’s presidency negatively. Labor’s attacks on Dutton’s ‘Americanisation’ of policy, like public service cuts, hit a nerve amid fears of U.S.-style economic disruption from tariffs.
The Wrap-up
Dutton’s approval rating hit its lowest since becoming opposition leader, collapsing to -15 in early April. His aggressive style, once promoted as an asset, clashed with voters’ desire for stability in uncertain times, while Albanese’s steady approach gained traction. The election’s focus shifted from a referendum on Labor to a choice between leaders, and Dutton’s risky bets didn’t pay off.
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P Duddy is determined to make sure that he and the rest of the Git Gang are going to lose.
https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/indonesia-rejects-reports-russia-plans-to-base-aircraft-near-darwin/news-story/56e4ce9fde9b27385a7a59eaf79356d2
How many more petrol stations is he going to visit and pretend to fuel a vehicle while coming up with new and inventive ways to utterly destroy any chance of the LNP to winning the election?
Now I am starting to wonder who from the Liberal Party is of sufficient character to replace Dutton after the election. I can’t see anyone, which means the current collection of shadow ministers is pretty shallow
Thank heavens Potty Boy Dutton’s approval rating is down. This country could not seriously embrace the authoritarian populism that Dutton espoused.
There are no raw materials in Dutton, a deficient invention for poltical purposes. One cannot make a fine palace of scraps, or a cathedral from cast off firewood. So, Dutton’s desertskulled dilemma is to appear loud, threatening, selling fear and guilt to the gullible. POO to that, when statesmanlike behaviour and real ability is needed. Dutton is the worst conservative leader ever, easily, even making Mc Mahon, Snedden, Peacock, Downer, Nelson seem gifted. (hang on.., Abbott, Morrison…)
Dutton keeps on hammering nails into his own coffin
Yesterday (Tuesday) Dutton attacked the Albanese government for a lapse in security and communication with Indonesia following reports that the Indonesians were in discussions with the Russian Federation to establish an air base on Indonesian soil.
Dutton said “it would be a “catastrophic failure” if they (the government) had not received notice of the request prior to it being “publicly announced by the president of Indonesia”.
But Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has not made any public statements or announcements about the reported request.
Dutton commented further “There’s commentary that I’ve seen reported from the Indonesian spokesperson, and that’s obviously come from the administration,” he said.
“The reports of negotiations or discussions that have taken place between Russia and Indonesia.”
Both Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry commented on the story saying they weren’t aware of any request from Russia.
It has since been made clear that Indonesia is not and has not engaged in any discussions with the Russian Federation regarding air bases being established on an Indonesian island. The Kremlin, when asked about the report that Russia has asked Indonesia for permission to base aircraft in its territory, said there was a lot of fake news around.
It seems that Dutton has gone off on this ‘fake news’ without first seeking verification or even a briefing form the government or the Department of Foreign Affairs or anybody else.
The man is a security risk and thrives on conspiracy theories and could not possibly be entrusted with a leadership role in our government let alone as prime minister.
Nice pun in that headline.
Uhm …..I am advised that the ”wonderful” petrol excise saving proposed by Boofhead Duddo is really a gift the the multinational fossil fuel corporations ….. because there is presently no way that the oil corporations can be mandated to pass on this ”saving”.
I like his promise to return ALL Centrelink recipients to the INdue Card promoted by the NOtional$ pollies who formed a corporation that will benefit by $12,000 per pensioner per year. NO more worries about working on Parliamentary Reports for Beetrooter, just sit back with a beer or three and watch to money roll in …..
Perhaps the pensioners might get a little upset with losing their financial independence, but when have the COALition borne-to-rule, self-entitled, self-serving pollies ever worried about what was best for the voters??
A real stroke of genius was telling working women that they would lose Working From Home” rights. Obviously Boofhead has never tried to juggle a young family and ”work” (hardly an accurate description of his performance in feral Parliament)
Then reminding voters that much of the savings made by the Albanese LABOR government occurred by terminating the army of ”consultants” that cost as least twice as much as experienced Commonwealth Public Servants, was really smart (and useful).
The DVA failures funding and making entitlements to retired military personnel was simply callous and totally unacceptable. Howard invited Australia into Iraq & Afghanistan and RAbbott revelled in the reflected glory as BILLIONS of taxpayer funds were diverted into war expenditure rather than sensible projects that would improve the ability of Australian voters to be successful in their endeavours. Duddo did his bit …. bullying two little Australian born Sri Lankan baby girls & their family just to prove that he had absolutely no compassion ….. AND ABSOLUTELY NO SUITABILITY FOR PRIM MONSTER.
I see Dipstick Littledrip is out helping The Dudster to lose the election.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-14/federal-election-2025-bendigo-lisa-chesters-david-littleproud/105175074
The Coalition MP Colin Boyce says he believes the way to turn voters against renewable energy is to “let Rome burn for a while” and allow power blackouts to occur in major cities. Boyce, the federal member for Flynn, had described blackouts as a “big political opportunity” at a meeting of climate science deniers in late 2023.
So that could become the coalition strategy to stop all this talk about renewable energy.
Pure and unadulterated trumpian style bullshit with lashings of desperation from the LNP.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/aggro-reckless-labor-savages-dutton-over-indonesia-remarks-20250416-p5ls7g.html
I see two spread cheeks RRWNJ sycophants, Paul Murray and Chris Kenny, of The Murdoch have declared that P Duddy basically beat the shit out of Albanese at the debate according to Spewscrap.
https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/federal-election-2025-albanese-dutton-face-off-in-second-leaders-debate/news-story/4801375c0337b78a14e466c12fa87ebb
The whole piece is basically just another piece of desperation theatre by the LNP and little teenage beardy boy got his head out of the arse of P Duddy to spout complete and utter bullshit as well.
It’s a wee bit too late to “apologise” isn’t it Bridget? You have helped pound another nail into the Duddy coffin.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/aggro-reckless-labor-savages-dutton-over-indonesia-remarks-20250416-p5ls7g.html
Busy on the campaign trail to get the Member for Pearce re-elected. (Christian Porter’s former seat)
The way the opinion polls are heading, she should win on an increased margin and looking at polling in Dutton’s seat, he may well lose to a woman. So much for calling others weak, that would be a super macho-deflator for the tough guy.
I don’t watch pay TV, or commercial TV (except selectively SBS) and suffer the increasingly appalling ABC news-n-current affairs, nor do I read mainstream press media, and choose not to open Facebook. That’s what the pollies play to and where the numbskull voters get their info from.
Between now and 3rd May, it could tip anyway any time depending on the crapola mill, so the polls are worth sfa. It’s become a low-brow circus of stale fairyfloss sellers.