September 3rd 2024.
Peter Dutton exudes a newfound sense of confidence, and it's not hard to see why. The government's missteps seem to be increasing by the day, and internal polling from the Opposition shows that they may have a real chance at winning the upcoming election.
It's not typical for a leader to openly discuss private polling, but during a conversation on the Neil Mitchell Asks Why? podcast, Dutton had no qualms about sharing his thoughts. "In Victoria, we're seeing some promising shifts in our favor, and there are even some seats on our radar that we didn't expect to be in play at this point in the election cycle," he explained.
Dutton went on to discuss the encouraging signs in other states as well, saying, "We're also seeing a lot of support in New South Wales and Western Australia, where we're starting to gain ground after a disappointing showing in the last election. I truly believe that we have the momentum on our side and can come out on top in this election."
When asked about the younger demographic, which has traditionally been a challenge for the Liberal Party, Dutton acknowledged that there have been difficulties in reaching them through social media. "The Labor Party and the Greens have a stronger presence on these platforms, but we're making significant headway in diluting their influence," he said confidently.
When pressed on why he was feeling so confident with months still to go until the election, Dutton cited two key factors. "Firstly, the current prime minister doesn't seem to be improving with time in the saddle. And secondly, as long as we maintain unity within our party, we can present ourselves as a credible alternative government," he explained. "And let's not forget, there are two pre-conditions for winning the election. Firstly, people need to be dissatisfied enough with the current government, and I believe they're well on their way to that. And secondly, they need to be voting for us, so our policies need to resonate with them."
Dutton also revealed his plans to target young voters with specific policies and a more aggressive social media strategy. "We know that the 18-to-34 demographic can be difficult for us, so we're focusing on issues that matter to them, like home ownership, education, and health," he said. "We also saw in the last election that their views are influenced by how they perceive their parents and grandparents being treated, so we're taking that into consideration as well."
When asked about the possibility of a pre-election makeover, Dutton humorously dismissed the idea. "I think I'm past the point of no return," he laughed. "If I suddenly showed up with a full head of hair like Ron Burgundy, I think people would definitely notice. But I'm comfortable in my own skin."
During the wide-ranging interview, Dutton also touched on a range of issues, including his plans to reverse laws allowing workers to disconnect from their bosses after hours, tightening immigration, reviewing labor laws introduced by the previous government, and cutting spending to address inflation. He also promised to announce his nuclear power policy soon and took a dig at treasurer Jim Chalmers, calling him "immature."
Dutton also had a message for the Victorian Liberals, urging them to step up their game. He also mentioned the coalition's plan to target Chinese voters in specific seats.
Throughout the interview, Dutton made an effort to humanize his image, referring to his years as a police officer and how it has shaped his perspective, particularly when it comes to issues involving children. He also emphasized the seriousness of security threats and organized crime in the country.
"It's easy for people to underestimate the extent of organized crime in Australia," he said. "From the illegal sale of tobacco and vapes to the importation of drugs like cocaine and amphetamines, there is a vast network of criminals at work. And unfortunately, young people who may have gone off the rails or been involved in petty crime are often targeted by these groups."
"In my experience, drugs are a much bigger problem than most people realize," Dutton added.
Neil Mitchell, a news analyst on 3AW and host of the weekly podcast Neil Mitchell Asks Why?, conducted the interview. He also took the opportunity to remind listeners that new episodes of his podcast are released every Tuesday.
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