Joe Hildebrand: Albo and Dutton’s Good Friday pause on hostilities proves respect still matters

In the cutthroat world of politics, it often seems rules don’t exist, so today’s Good Friday truce – and the decency and civility it promotes – comes as a relief, writes Joe Hildebrand.

In the cutthroat world of politics it can often seem like there are no rules.

And in the turbulent age we’re living in now — fuelled by fringe politics and social

media and following an unprecedented body count of toppled prime ministers — it

can feel like that more than ever.

And so it is a relief to realise that there is still some room for decency and civility in

politics.

After the PM and Opposition leader traded barbs in a fiery debate this week, the two

men agreed to a temporary cessation of hostilities today, the holiest and most

profound of the Christian calendar.

No press conferences to be held, no policies to be released. Like a Christmas truce

in no man’s land during World War I.

Peter Dutton and his wife Kirilly at Good Friday service in Punchbowl. Picture: Richard Dobson

Peter Dutton attended mass at St Charbel’s monastery in Punchbowl, a Lebanese

Maronite church.

Anthony Albanese, who was raised a Catholic, has also taken to quietly attending

mass when he can — although he always attempts to privately.

Instead his only public engagement was a gentle stroll through leafy Lane Cove

West with Bennelong MP Jerome Laxale and their partners.

Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon take their cavoodle Toto for a walk on Good Friday morning. Picture: Mark Stewart

Sure, Bennelong happens to be the most marginal seat in Sydney but I’m sure

nothing could have been further from the PM’s mind as he contemplated the

Rabbitohs’ chances in their Good Friday fixture.

It might not be much of a reprieve but it is still a sign that even in this modern,

secular and fast-changing world tradition still matters. Respect still matters.

The NSW Premier Chris Minns made a landmark speech after defeating his friend

and fellow Catholic Dominic Perrottet in that state’s election in 2023.

After a campaign that was noted for its unprecedented decency and civility, Minns

said how proud he was of the way both men had conducted themselves and hoped

that it might serve as a lesson that politics didn’t have to be as personal and nasty as

it has sometimes become.

It didn’t prove that it would be done, he cautioned, but it proved that it could be done.

And the goodwill shown on this Good Friday gives us all a little faith that one day it

might.

Originally published as Joe Hildebrand: Albo and Dutton’s Good Friday pause on hostilities proves respect still matters