Pre-poll voting starts today. And Peter Dutton is increasingly desperate. These two facts are not unrelated.
As we round the metaphorical bend and head down the straight to the May 3 finishing line of this election campaign, Dutton’s chances of realising his moment of destiny are fading fast. Remarkably, he keeps making the wrong calls.
Chief among them is his recent nod to the greatness of Mike Pezzullo, the handsomely remunerated Canberra bureaucrat who was drummed out of the public service in disgrace two years ago. Dutton’s decision to champion his cause and reinstate him if elected tells us a great deal about the opposition leader’s judgment and why his campaign has gone off the rails: he will happily remove 41,000 public servants but would bring back the one who broke the rules.
Conduct unbecoming
It takes a lot to be sacked from the public service and stripped of an Australian honour but Pezzullo managed both. His downfall came after the Nine mastheads published leaked WhatsApp messages between Pezzullo, then head of the Home Affairs Department, and Liberal Party powerbroker Scott Briggs. The secret text messages revealed Pezzullo’s attempts to influence political appointments via Briggs’s closeness to the Liberal leadership.
A subsequent investigation by the Australian Public Service Commission found Pezzullo had committed 14 breaches of the public service code of conduct. These included: using his “duty, power, status or authority” to gain advantage for himself; engaging in “gossip and disrespectful critique of ministers and public servants”; failing to act “apolitically”; failing to maintain the confidentiality of “sensitive government information”.
Sky’s his limit
The resurrection of Pezzullo has been a work in progress over the past 12 months, culminating in recent appearances on Sky News commenting on defence. His return to government would recall the heady days when he and Dutton sat atop Home Affairs, a super-department created to accommodate Dutton’s vaulting ambition, covering Australia’s intelligence, security and border protection agencies.
It is an example of Dutton returning to type. Yesterday at a media conference in Melbourne he warned of crime being out of control, a desperate state of affairs with Victorians too scared to go to the shops. It brought to mind his warnings seven years ago of families being too scared to go to restaurants because of Sudanese gangs who ruled the streets.
Fear and loathing
At the same time he has continued to raise the dire spectre of a Russian threat to Australia, via an alleged military deal with Indonesia, despite official denials from Indonesia and no independent evidence. In this, he has been ably assisted by The Australian which won’t let go of the red scare story in its attempts to create an issue which might derail Albanese’s campaign. As we wrote last week, the idea of outside intervention via a security threat to the country has been a staple of election campaigns since the days of John Howard.
At this point in the campaign it’s hard to know who’s calling the shots at Liberal HQ. What is evident though is that Dutton’s desperation is well and truly matched at The Australian, which for all intents and purposes acts as a platform of the Coalition campaign. Yesterday it aired former prime minister (and Fox board member) Tony Abbott’s dire warnings that Australia was on a path to ruin, with the end of Judeo-Christian civilisation nigh should the presumed Labor-Greens axis run Australia for another three years.
A comedy of errors
Last week the newspaper launched an extraordinary attack on green lobby group the Smart Energy Council and its senior adviser, businessman Simon Holmes à Court, alleging the organisation had links to slave labour. Holmes à Court is a constant target of The Australian over his Climate 200 organisation which funds community independents. He has indicated he will sue The Australian for its slave labour claims.
Stand by over the next few days too for Dutton’s major announcement on increased defence spending, another of The Australian’s signature issues.
It is alarming how far off centre Dutton has veered during the first three weeks of the campaign, and how many errors he’s made as he falls back on his tough-on-security persona.
I’ll keep on banging on about this: The Dud Dutton was a joke back 5 years ago in the Scumo government. It was mentioned by all that he’d never be an opposition leader. But look what happened. The Dud is the real dud of Australian politics. How could anyone seriously vote for him?
It’s a bit unfair concentrating on Dutton being a dud. After all, when you look at those in the now very-I’ll liberal Liberal party the “best” of them are also complete duds and, as for the rest, their parents really did waste their money feeding them
Yes, the real reason he is the leader is the calibre of the rest of the crew. When you look at Angus, Susan, Jane, James or Michaela, there’s really no choice. And combined with Brian or a resurrected Barnaby as deputy PM, it’s no wonder voters are getting a bit reticent .
Thats what we said about Trump
I agree some caution is helpful. While I think Dutton and his policies are lightweight and odious, a significant number voted for Coalition last time. Most/many of them excuse Coalition misteps like ‘we’ excuse forward pases/dropped catches from our preferred team. Happy Albo is in front, but a hazardous way to go.
True, but I think there are compelling differences between USA & Australia in our democratic structures that mean Dutton can’t be elected by circumventing democracy
Yes and that’s what’s scary! Also Morrison!!
He’ll be mashed potato soon enough Mulloes!
Lots of your fellow Australians will. How do you feel about them?
The Australian newspaper in the 1980s was a really good paper and now it is full of rubbish and now since 2000 it is less about facts and more about stupid comments and sky news after dark sensational rubbish
Totally agree…. I wouldn’t wrap my fish and chips in it as I’d get contaminated … and there’s no cure on the PBS!
I wouldn’t even buy it.
Given their abysmal record in government last time it is mind blowing that the Coalition or more aptly the Leftovers, are even in the conversation. No principles, vested interests searching for a policy.
The Australian, suppository of the sagacity of senile Greg Sheridan and his delinquent disciples on their Dells.
bought my last Australian in 2005, I used to like the Weekend Magazine……but, it was getting so rank I swore off it and have never bought anotehr copy!
I bought my last Australian c1975 when they turned on Gough
Way back in 1964 (!) when the Oz was launched, it was a real breath of fresh air. Excellent coverage, layout and quality commentary. Now it is crap that you wouldn’t wipe your rear end on.
Absolutely right
My Father bought the first edition I was hooked on it for decades I am truly saddened by what it has become
Stuart, I could hardly agree more.
And in its earliest iterations.
Dutton is right. Victoria is a hellscape. Today my security detail and I got in our Armoured Personnel Carrier and drove to my supermarket of choice. Whilst the security detail secured the perimeter I shopped for the necessities of life.
Actually I had a nice walk to the shops. Brought the aforementioned necessities and had a pleasant walk home. I saw no sign of Mr Dutton’s scare dial set to 11. The sky did not fall. End times are not upon us.
Can you pick me up on your next mission?
I’m too frightened to go to the shops and my grandchildren are laughing at me
Ah but once the Labor/Greens axis of evil has taken over you won’t be able to go to the supermarket of your choice – even in a Sherman tank – but will be forced to buy cold lentils from a Stalinist government shop…
I guess no body in Victoria will venture out to vote, what with all the crime etc that Duds is manufacturing.
🤣
See ya later mashed potata!
Let’s hope Mr. Dutton keeps it up to ensure the Libs lose. He is deliberately in my view acting like Trump with daily announcements from nowhere. As for the Australian, it is anything but Australian and those involved are simply hungry for power at any cost… let’s hope an irrevocable trust sways it or destroys it
There’s just nothing good that can be said about Dutton! Let him carry on, he’s digging his own grave!
The Catholic Boys’ Weekly is in fine form.
Yes – but they elected Trump, more’s the pity.
The more you examine the Coalition campaign the more similarities with Trumpian America appear. An analysis, booth by booth, of the voting patterns will surely reveal how deeply extreme right thinking has penetrated Australian society.
After the election, perhaps Dutton could get a job at a petrol bowser. He has had lots of experience lately.
Trump’s love child…..
grampa rupert sponsers all
I must be a superman. I regularly walk around Melbourne suburbs on my own, even after dark, without carrying a gun or a suit of armour or an alarm.
You wouldn’t want to do that in American cities
That is the point, I believe.
Be careful, walking around after dark can be dangerous – you might run into Dutton! A shock like that could cause permanent mental damage and nervous tics as you will be constantly turning around to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Hopefully the good folk of Dickson will rise to the occasion and Boot the Beast of Biloela, so the rest of us never have to see or listen to creep again. What a waste of space
We’re going to give it our best shot!
A credible opposition is important to democracy – the Liberal party has become captive to vested interests, fringe views, populism and religious ideology. They had some relatively normal members but they’re all but gone (for reasons entirely of the party’s own making).
The fact that they might one day be in government is a frightening prospect.
Thank goodness someone is writing a sensible response here.
I left Twitter, when it was Twitter, because of so many silly useless comments.
I had a dream last night. Rupert died and the children voted to give James control of News Corp.
On that happy day, in the immortal words of Tove Jansson, “all small creatures should wear bows on their tails.”
I think I shall opt for a rainbow armband.
It is scary. Last year 6 people were stabbed to death and 12 injured at Westefield Bondi Junction shopping mall. Oh, wait, that’s in Sydney.
I think it is quite memorable that Malcolm Turnbull, when asked what he thought of Peter Dutton, said he was “a thug”.
Aside from his words, I can’t decide which is more intimidating, his poker-face or his smile.
At a time not that long ago even the labor party were in love with Commissar Pezullo, singing his praises in anticipation of a forthcoming victory, but alas wasn’t to be. Billl Shorten and his fellow travellers from what used to be the DLP have been noticeably quiet since Nut job Pezullo fouled the nest.
I do buy the Australian occasionally but not to read. As the only broadsheet available where I shop it’s the paper of choice for the cats litter tray to sit on. He often misses the litter tray when he does his business. I can’t think of a better use for that newspaper.
Clearly most of the previous respondents get their news from the ABC rather than apolitical sources such as Meta.
To call Dutton a Dud or Morrison Scumo is not only disrespectful but inaccurate.
I respectfully suggest that Dutton may be compared to a puppet in a pond where his feet find no ground even as the puppet master lowers his pate below water level.
For me, the smile.
I am concerned at the Libs saying g they would get rid of free TAFE. I have heard a Liberal candidate say that the finishing rate of TAFE students is 7%> WRONG. The rate is 48%< Some students transfer to Uni or change courses. When this candidate was corrected I heard he was still quoting this incorrect information. We need free TAFE.
I knew the Conservative clowns would start the xenophobic scare campaign at some stage.
They’re definitely desperate.
They’ve started earlier than expected.
It’s Karma…but Dutton will carry on under turd (sorry for the misspelling)….
I consider myself well informed and am probably considered a politics nerd, and find myself on the just and right side of history on most political issues. However, I have had very little success predicting election results. Because I avoid media and people that offend me (the News empire, breakfast TV, commercial radio etc) maybe I live in a self created bubble? Anyway, I was handing out how to votes for the federal election when Morrison slid in so know how times are not always what they seem.
I also last read The Australian about 1974, before attending a demonstration at Old Parliament House with a big banner that was not complimentary to the born-to-rule bloke of the western Victorian Liberal Party gentry who disgraced himself with a hard working and honorable prostitute in Memphis.
Fraser and Trump have so much in common, over the generations….
UThe influence of the (in)Australian and Sky, even though it’s apparently available free in some country areas, is overrated. Both are objects of ridicule to those outside their extremely small viewer/readership.
It’s also patently clear that Nine is openly supporting Dutton as well…..
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/lying-desperation-personal-abuse-our-experts-give-their-debate-verdicts-20250422-p5lthf.html
Debating if I will continue to support that rubbish as well, you’re essentially paying for comment however a lot of mine which does not necessarily agree with their perspective aren’t published!
WoW .. not only has ‘truth-telling’ in commercial media outlets become corrupted … they have also been ‘dumbed down’! If we had the balls to reign in media ownership rules … so that there were no monopolies of ALL forms of media ownership … we would not have the present problems of Media Owners .. also Owning Politicians