Rita Panahi: Peter Dutton facing media heat as he backs conservative policy agenda

Peter Dutton has withstood vicious media treatment in the past but the heat is about to be turned up to thermonuclear levels now he is unashamedly backing a conservative policy agenda, including an outright ban on visas for Palestinians from Gaza.

Peter Dutton has withstood vicious media treatment in the past but the heat is about to be turned up to thermonuclear levels now that the Opposition Leader is polling well and unashamedly backing a conservative policy agenda. Whether it’s energy or population policy Dutton’s instincts are proving to be electorally popular. Dutton’s call for an outright ban on visas for Palestinians from Gaza, where the majority continue to support terrorist group Hamas, has enraged the Australian Left.

On Thursday, Dutton could only laugh after being greeted on Nine’s Today show with the following question: “Good morning, Pete, are you a heartless racist? Do you have any humanity?” That was how Karl Stefanovic began the interview. It didn’t get any better in the Australian parliament as Teal Zali Steggall lashed out at Dutton. After losing her cool, and demanding the chamber fall silent for her speech, she yelled the following slur at the Opposition Leader: “We heard you in silence. You can hear me in silence. Stop being racist!”

Steggall withdrew the comment but then appeared on Sky News on Thursday afternoon to double down on her ugly rhetoric, again claiming that Dutton’s policy is racist, and by association that makes him racist, too. Steggall was unable to explain how a policy that applies only to a certain geographical region under the control of terrorists is “racist” but one cannot expect logic or rational explanations from those accustomed to hyperbole.

Dutton’s instincts are proving to be electorally popular. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Steggall’s fellow traveller, the reliably hysterical far Left Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young also joined the pile on saying “Dutton was leader of the nasty party”. Hanson-Young had earlier heckled Nationals leader David Littleproud as he addressed the media. “Why don’t you say something about the children being slaughtered?” the Greens environment spokeswoman said. She followed up that performance with these comments about Dutton: “He is so unfit to be prime minister because there isn’t, there isn’t a low bar that he won’t go under … So low he’ll use the persecution of children to try and win yourself the top job in government.”

Sadly for Zali and her like-minded comrades, falsely labelling someone a “racist” or “nasty” is no longer considered a winning argument. “Racist” has become a term used by elements of the Left to try to silence their ideological opponents but it only works with the weakest faux-conservatives like the ones that populate the Victorian Liberal Party.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, spooked by a number of poor polls, is also indulging in increasingly personal and emotional attacks against Dutton. “He sows fear and he sows division,” the PM said “That is what he does, that’s what he has done his entire political career and that’s what he continues to do.” Rich commentary from the man who tried to enshrine racial division into Australia’s founding document.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Dutton “sows fear and he sows division”. Picture: Martin Ollman

Far from backing down or cowering under the barrage of attacks, Dutton immediately hit back. His political instincts are sound and he knows not only does he have moral clarity on this issue but the majority of Australians support his position. “I think the vast majority of Australians would know that what we’re talking about here is keeping our country safe and making sure that if we’re to discriminate against people, it’s on the basis of them wanting to cause harm or potentially wanting to cause harm to our country,” he said.

Since the resounding success of the “no” vote in the race-based Voice referendum, Dutton has found his mojo. That is evident whether he is speaking about national security, energy policy or cost of living concerns. He has also been clear-eyed on “culture war” issues and that brand of unapologetic conservatism has seen the Coalition come within striking distance of Labor, even leading the Albanese government in some polls. That is a remarkable feat and it has spooked not just the political Left but also the bulk of the media.

Dutton can look forward to the sort of treatment that Tony Abbott copped throughout his time as Opposition Leader and Prime Minister. Unlike the former PM, Dutton is unlikely to fall into the trap of trying to appease his detractors. He knows that the best form of defence is attack.

In short: The Victorian Liberals must make a move or continue to flounder in opposition. If an election were held today Labor would prevail despite polls tightening due to the state government’s gross mismanagement. The Vic Libs need to put an end to John Pesutto’s inept reign and fully capitalise on the deepening, multifaceted crisis afflicting the Jacinta Allan government.