Tony Abbott backs Coalition and Peter Dutton despite slumping poll results

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has revealed why he has waved off Peter Dutton’s dismal polling results, holding out hope for a ‘miracle’ win for the Opposition leader.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has backed Peter Dutton to pull off a miracle election win and become a Prime Minister “of the John Howard mould”.

Mr Abbott boldly dismissed poor polling for Mr Dutton and the Coalition, declaring the party could still take government – in the same way he and former prime ministers Mr Howard and Scott Morrison pulled off miracle wins against all odds.

”I remember very well the 2010 campaign and I was behind in the polls the whole campaign but ended up winning more seats than Labor,” Mr Abbott said.

“I remember the 2019 campaign when Scott Morrison was behind the whole campaign and had his miracle win.

“And I particularly remember, because I go back a fair way, the 2004 campaign and at the midpoint of the 2004 campaign you might remember (then Labor Opposition leader who lost to John Howard) Mark Latham was in the ascendancy and he was ahead in Newspoll at 52.5 per cent to 47.5.

“So I am not too anxious about the polls.

“I am looking at the field evidence and the field evidence on the ground is that people feel badly let down by this government.’’

Mr Abbott boldly dismissed poor polling for Mr Dutton and the Coalition, declaring the party could still take government. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Mr Abbott, who jumped into a boxing ring at Dundee Kim’s Gym on Brisbane’s southside yesterday to promote the LNP’s candidate for Moreton, Henry Swindon, said Mr Dutton retained his full confidence.

“I have known Peter for one quarter of a century,’’ Mr Abbott said.

”He is strong, he is decent, he is smart and I think if he gets to be Prime Minister he will be a Prime Minister in the John Howard mould.

“And that is what we need — we need another strong solid steady sensible Prime Minister who loves Australia.’’

Mr Abbott, widely regarded as one of Australia’s great post war Opposition leaders, said he was looking forward to handing over his crown to Mr Dutton.

“If Peter Dutton can win, and I so hope he does and I believe he absolutely can, he will rightly be the best Opposition leader in our history,’’ Mr Abbott said.

“And I want him to be the best Prime Minister in our history, and I do believe he is someone who has always modelled himself on John Howard whom I certainly think is the best Prime Minister of recent times.

“We need Howard Mark 11 — someone steady, sensible, considered and someone who can be there for a long time.’’

Mr Abbott jumped into a boxing ring at Dundee Kim’s Gym on Brisbane’s southside yesterday to promote the LNP’s candidate for Moreton. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Mr Abbott said Labor spending was keeping interest rates high while the ruling party’s “emissions obsession’’ was causing crippling power bills.

He said Mr Swindon, who has a military background and served in Afghanistan, had a real chance of winning Moreton partly on the back of the Coalition’s promised fuel excise cut.

“There are a lot of car dependent seats in Brisbane.’’

Mr Swindon said he chose to campaign at Dundee Kim’s gym because Dundee Kim owned four such businesses across the south east, and was a fine example of the success of Queensland’s small business sector.

“It’s a great success story and more Australians should aspire to be business owners like yourself,’’ he told Dundee Kim.

Originally published as Tony Abbott backs Coalition and Peter Dutton despite slumping poll results