Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton trade barbs at campaign launches

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have thrown some of their most stinging barbs of the campaign as they officially launched the battle to become Australia’s next PM.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have traded barbs, trying to discredit the other’s trustworthiness and vision for the country, as they battled it out to be Australia’s next prime minister at their respective campaign launches.

Labor lashed Mr Dutton, accusing him of trying to instil Trump Administration policies on Australians and “measuring up the curtains” at Kirribilli House in Sydney.

While the Liberals tried to undermine the Prime Minister’s integrity, claiming he lied about falling off the stage during the first week on the trail.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley claimed Anthony Albanese had “failed every test of character”. Picture: Richard Dobson

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley gave a scathing character assessment of Mr Albanese, saying he had “failed every test of character”, refused to apologise for his broken promise to cut power bills, and was “planning his retirement in Copacabana” while Australians struggled to stay afloat.

“We have a liar in the Lodge. He is weak, indecisive, and out of his depth,” she said.

“When Alice Springs was burning, he was at the Australian Open, feet up, drinking beers, eating ice creams.

“When a synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed, he decided a hit of tennis in Perth was a higher priority.”

Peter Dutton was blistering in his criticism of how Anthony Albanese responded after falling from a stage during the campaign. Picture: Mark Baker

In a blistering attack, Mr Dutton claimed that “if Anthony Albanese lies about something as simple as falling off a stage, there’s nothing he won’t lie about.

“The footage was there – people saw it, Prime Minister! People saw you fall off the stage! “How can you look people in the eye and lie to them, as you did in relation to the $275, as you did in relation to the Voice,” Mr Dutton said.

He took aim at Labor’s superannuation tax, saying Mr Albanese’s “word is never his bond”, accused him of “doing things on the run”, not “telling the truth” on healthcare, and calling into a Darwin radio station “after a couple of wines” in an attempt to upstage the Liberals Port of Darwin announcement.

Anthony Albanese launches the Labor campaign in Perth with another direct attack on Peter Dutton over saying he would live in Sydney if he became PM. Picture: Jason Edwards

Meanwhile in Perth, Labor’s campaign launch accused the Liberals for wanting to increase taxes and cut services.

“If Peter Dutton won’t tell you what cuts he will make before you vote, if he refuses to say where the $600 billion for his nuclear reactors will come from, then every other promise he makes is worthless,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese has sought to link Mr Dutton with the US President, without saying Donald Trump’s name, suggesting the Coalition “want to copy from overseas”.

The sharpest direct attacks on Mr Dutton were in relation to an FM radio interview where the Opposition leader said he would live at Kirribilli House in Sydney if elected PM.

Mr Albanese said Mr Dutton was “happy to talk about measuring up the curtains at Kirribilli House” but not happy to talk about the cost of his nuclear plan.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles went on the attack during Labor’s campaign launch. Picture: Jason Edwards

While the PM was restrained, his Deputy Richard Marles went on the attack over Mr Dutton attending a fundraiser in Sydney as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred bore down on his home state.

“He was on radio telling everyone that when he becomes Prime Minister, he really wanted to live in a mansion on Sydney Harbour, which, remember, is exactly where he was – at a liberal fundraiser when a cyclone was barrelling towards his home state of Queensland.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton trade barbs at campaign launches