Peter Dutton ends the year with the Coalition in a competitive position to fight the federal election, due no later than May 17. Three years ago, the Morrison government’s defeat was compounded by losing six blue ribbon inner-city Liberal Party seats to the teal independents. The Coalition appeared set for an extended period in opposition. Yet, recent opinion polls suggest that Dutton may be able to form a minority government in a hung parliament.

Dutton has benefited from the Labor government’s errors. These include Labor’s bigger-spending policies, which have added to persistent inflation, and Anthony Albanese’s failed pursuit of the Indigenous Voice to parliament, which some voters viewed as a distraction during a cost-of-living crisis.