Peter Dutton is not Donald Trump. He can’t afford to be
The opposition leader’s role in delivering marriage equality should be a reminder that he is not an arch-conservative, as a growing narrative by his detractors suggests.
To this day, progressives bristle at the observation that if it were not for Peter Dutton, Australia may not have legalised same-sex marriage in December 2017.
As a conservative, Dutton did not personally support changing the Marriage Act, but he was acutely aware the overwhelming majority of the country did, the momentum for change was becoming unstoppable, and it had to be delivered.
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Phillip Coorey is the political editor based in Canberra. He is a two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham award for press gallery excellence. Connect with Phillip on Facebook and Twitter. Email Phillip at pcoorey@afr.com
