The year began with Albanese government ministers describing Peter Dutton as their best asset. It is ending with the threat he could turn into their worst nightmare.
A rejuvenated Dutton has – with considerable help from the government – succeeded in catastrophising every issue, creating a sense of chaos around Anthony Albanese. Brimming with confidence, Dutton now scoffs at suggestions he is running a two-term strategy to unseat Albanese, predicting he will reduce him to a one-termer.
Albanese needs to change or he will go down. It won’t matter how ugly Dutton’s style of politics is.Credit: Illustration: Dionne Gain
Dutton is starring in the Terminator sequel, fittingly subtitled Judgment Day, tutored by the original, Tony Abbott, living proof there is no such thing as an unelectable opposition leader.
If Albanese doesn’t change, he will go down. It won’t matter how ugly Dutton’s style of politics – Labor’s focus groups cast him as thuggish – or what state the economy is in.
When Albanese rang in last week to congratulate John Laws on 70 years of broadcasting, he told him, apropos of nothing at all: “You know John, that a little fun fact is, the next election, I will be seeking to be the first prime minister in over 20 years to be re-elected.”
Hilarious. Especially as those close to him say he appreciates the gravity of the situation and knows he could easily fall victim to this curse. “He is not in denial,” they say. So, he needs to fix it. Now.
The government has enabled and obliged Dutton by screwing up repeatedly – essentially by making the same mistake. It reacts too slowly to a problem, then responds either inadequately or incompetently. This column warned in September during the Qantas/Qatar controversy about the dangers of poor political management. Things have become worse, not better.
Gains from Albanese’s visit to China evaporated after news Australian navy divers were injured by sonar from a Chinese warship. That it happened was bad enough. Compounding it was the delay in revealing it, followed by unconvincing explanations of whether Albanese had raised it with Xi Jinping at the APEC meeting in the US, which Albanese attended at President Joe Biden’s urging. All voters saw was chummy footage of Albo shaking hands with China’s supreme leader.
Given Albanese’s absence from parliament during a critical time, the least Biden could do now is to free Julian Assange so he can have Christmas with his family.
It’s hunting season for Terminator Dutton as Albanese flounders
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06.12.2023
The year began with Albanese government ministers describing Peter Dutton as their best asset. It is ending with the threat he could turn into their worst nightmare.
A rejuvenated Dutton has – with considerable help from the government – succeeded in catastrophising every issue, creating a sense of chaos around Anthony Albanese. Brimming with confidence, Dutton now scoffs at suggestions he is running a two-term strategy to unseat Albanese, predicting he will reduce him to a one-termer.
Albanese needs to change or he will go down. It won’t matter how ugly Dutton’s style of politics is.Credit: Illustration: Dionne........
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