Don’t listen to ‘hate media’ on election result: Dutton
Tess Ikonomou |
Flagging in the polls, Peter Dutton has urged party supporters to ignore the “hate media” and believe the election is still there for the coalition’s taking.
The opposition leader addressed back-to-back campaign rallies in suburban Sydney and Melbourne seats the Liberals are targeting as the May 3 election date nears.
He said his team was in the fight of their lives over the next six days.
“I have no doubt in my mind that we can win this election,” Mr Dutton told supporters in the Labor-held seat of Hawke, in Melbourne’s outer-western suburbs, on Sunday.
“Forget about what you have been told by the ABC in The Guardian, and the other hate media.
“Forget about that. Listen to what you’re hearing on the doors.”
More than a hundred party faithful in attendance applauded and cheered Mr Dutton as he laid out his vision for the future of Australia.
The opposition leader has kicked off a campaign blitz in the final stretch of the race with plans to visit up to 28 key seats across the country.
Mr Dutton was on a plane to Sydney shortly after the event in Melbourne – where the front row was filled with Liberal frontbenchers – accompanied by party elders in the seat of Mackellar, held by independent Sophie Scamps.
Driving through the teal-held electorate, corflutes depicting both Anthony Albanese on a backdrop of red and Mr Dutton on blue carry the tagline: “The parties are the problem.”
The Liberals are desperate to win the seat back after losing it at the 2022 election.
Speaking at a rally at Mona Vale Bowling Club, on Sydney’s northern beaches, Mr Dutton joked about being egged on to drink from his shoe at Townsville RSL on Anzac Day.
“I resisted and I think I was wise to do so – it would have been wildly popular at the time in the crowd and I got a boo because I wasn’t prepared to do it,” he said.
“I just think it wouldn’t have played out so well around the rest of the country and I may well be in hospital now as a result of having done that.”
Former prime minister John Howard was on hand to introduce Liberal candidate James Brown, lauding his service to the nation through the military and now politics.
He described Mr Brown as a “quintessential decent Australian bloke”.
“Good luck mate, you’re going to win,” Mr Howard added.
Mr Brown, an ex-army officer, was previously married to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s daughter Daisy.
The latest data from the Australian Electoral Commission shows 2.4 million voters had already cast a ballot as of Saturday, while another 500,000 people had returned a postal vote.
AAP
