No surprise Opposition leader Peter Dutton is already targeting Western Sydney

Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s decision to attend a community event at Fairfield on Sunday afternoon underlines the importance of Western Sydmey in determining the outcome of the federal election, writes Lachlan Leeming.

The importance of Western Sydney in determining the next Prime Minister cannot be overstated, and Peter Dutton spending Sunday afternoon at a community event in Fairfield was no accident.

At a festival celebrating Assyrian New Year, an uneasy truce between Labor, Liberal and independent politicians was made, with Opposition leader Peter Dutton, Energy Minister Chris Bowen and NSW Premier Chris Minns all attending to grab their share of public support.

Western Sydney seats such as Fowler and Werriwa will be vital in the election with too many politicians to name attending the festival at Fairfield Showground.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton attends Assyrian New Year at Fairfield Showgrounds today. Election. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

Fowler is held by the Independent Dai Le - one of the few crossbenchers the Coalition would be desperate to woo to help Peter Dutton get a nicer office in Parliament House.

With the Greens probably off the table as a negotiating option for Mr Dutton’s team, and after he ruled out certain Teal MPs such as Monique Ryan - it will be the independents such as Dai Le who could potentially do a deal with the Opposition leader.

Metres away from Peter Dutton, Chris Bowen was accompanied by Labor’s candidate for Fowler, Tu Le, with the winner of her and Dai’s battle set to play government powerbroker.

“Today is not about politics, it’s about people,” popular Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, who has previously pondered a run at the senate in this election, told the crowd.

Mr Dutton chats with an elderly woman at Fairfield Showgrounds. Picture Thomas Lisson / NewsWire

Despite that, political tension was rife in the air - with Mr Bowen and Mr Dutton briefly shaking hands before joining a clapping, jigging circle of Assyrian dancers.

It was less than an hour after Mr Dutton held a press conference in Mr Bowen’s electorate with the Liberal’s candidate for the seat, former Labor Councillor Carmen Lazar.

Ms Lazar received a special dispensation to run for the Liberals after ditching Labor last year - stemming partially from her being burned over Mr Bowen not backing her to run for Labor in the 2023 state election.

Not about politics, indeed.

Originally published as No surprise Opposition leader Peter Dutton is already targeting Western Sydney