Election Analysis - Week Two

it was clear that peter dutton won the moral argument this week and found a solid footing for the REMAINDER of the CAMPAIGN. by David Hughes.

First published in the AFR

We vote on character as much as we vote on policy. With unprecedented uncertainties in the world, voters read less into political promises and increasingly look to character. They want to know how leaders will react and adapt when things don’t go to plan.

This week began with a modest but meaningful concession from Peter Dutton: acknowledging that Canberra’s public servants could continue working from home under a Coalition government. Recognising that workplace flexibility has become non-negotiable for families, he apologised for previous uncertainty and demonstrated a humility we don’t often see from a political leader.

Meanwhile, Anthony Albanese’s campaign seemed intent on deflecting scrutiny through manufactured controversy. Labor repeatedly painted the Coalition with tired Trumpian parallels. Yet it was Albanese himself who adopted a Trump-like belligerence. When he fell off a stage at a campaign event, Albanese simply denied it ever happened. More critically, it’s now been 1225 days since he promised voters a $275 cut to power bills – without delivering or offering any meaningful explanation.

Character matters deeply to voters, especially amid global uncertainty. Australians aren’t just voting on policies; they’re assessing how candidates respond when things inevitably don’t go to plan. Albanese, by refusing to admit even minor errors, reveals a rigidity ill-suited to uncertain times. His campaign is tangled in contradiction – stubbornly doubling down on policies that clearly aren’t resonating, while accusing anyone who dares disagree of Trump-like extremism.

The latest “Mediscare” effort from Labor is a transparent attempt to distract voters. It’s not just misleading: it insults the public’s intelligence. During this week’s leaders debate, a female audience member asked Albanese about access to GP services. After a predictable Mediscare tirade from the prime minister, Peter Dutton calmly asked the woman if she had been able to find bulk-billed GP services under the current government. Turns out she pays with her credit card, not her Medicare card. The superficial nature of Albanese’s tactics were laid bare in a “boy who cried wolf” moment.

In contrast, Dutton’s composed and direct approach allowed him to articulate his priorities while exposing Labor’s desperate tactics. The week may not have shifted immediate polling numbers significantly, but it did reinforce a broader message: Peter Dutton is willing to engage seriously and honestly, while Anthony Albanese hides behind bluster and distraction.

This week, Dutton demonstrated precisely the kind of measured, morally grounded leadership Australians want and deserve.