Peter Dutton urges Anthony Albanese not to call an election this weekend as Cyclone Alfred hits

Peter Dutton has urged Anthony Albanese not to call an election this weekend, warning the PM he would have a “tin ear” to make the call amid cyclone chaos.

Peter Dutton has warned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would have a “tin ear” if he goes to an election this weekend as Cyclone Alfred prepares to bear down on Queensland.

The Liberal leader’s Dickson electorate is directly in the category 2 cyclone’s firing line with the gale force winds set to lay siege to his home.

“I haven’t taped up the windows. I haven’t been that organised, but it’s something some of you should consider,’’ he said.

Amid rampant election speculation, Mr Dutton has returned to Queensland after briefly diverting to Sydney on Tuesday ahead of the cyclone making landfall.

Peter Dutton has urged Anthony Albanese to avoid calling an election this weekend as Cyclone Alfred bears down on Queensland and NSW

“Oh, but I’ll be the last to be told when, when the election is to be held,’’ he said.

“But I’d be surprised if he calls it this Sunday or Monday for the 12th of April.

“Now, let’s hope that all of these predictions about tropical cyclone are overstated or it’s not going to be the full impact that people are anticipating, but if it is, then we’re going to see significant flooding again and to a much broader area than what would normally be the case.

“There’s still concerns about what happens with flows down the Brisbane River, and what that could mean for people who are affected by flooding in the Brisbane River and other river systems, obviously, across the south east corner, there will be people waiting for waters to recede.

“There will be water rescues. There will be people cleaning out their houses or their businesses, and some people will have lost everything, that’s the reality of these weather events, and to go to an election at that stage, at that time.

“I think the prime minister would have a tin ear to do that. It’s not due until the 17th of May, so he’s got plenty of time to sort out when it is.

“But he may well have been intending to go this weekend, but I think it is difficult in the circumstances, and I think people probably want from Prime Minister, governing not campaigning.”

The Prime Minister has brushed off questions of the election, insisting he’s focused on the task at hand.

“I’m focused on governing,” he said.

“That’s what I’m doing each and every day. I met with the New South Wales Premier yesterday, met with the Queensland Premier last night.

“I’ll be with the Queensland Premier today. That’s my focus. I don’t think that people who are your listeners, with due respect to the importance of the next federal election, I don’t think their focus this morning is on election dates.”

More to come.

Originally published as Peter Dutton urges Anthony Albanese not to call an election this weekend as Cyclone Alfred hits