Dutton campaign not going as party wanted, but miracles can happen: Frydenberg

Josh Frydenberg has admitted the Coalition’s campaign has not gone as the party had wanted, leaving the door open to his own political comeback as MPs ponder who the next opposition leader could be if Peter Dutton fails badly at Saturday’s election.

The former treasurer, touted as the next party leader before being voted out of his own seat of Kooyong in 2022, suggested Dutton needed a Scott Morrison-style “miracle” to avoid making Anthony Albanese only the second leader since John Howard to win successive elections.

Josh Frydenberg and writers festival host, journalist Cameron Stewart, at Saturday’s off-record event at the Sorrento Writers Festival.Credit: Gena Ferguson

“Ask any senior Liberal official and none would say that the campaign has unfolded as we would have wanted,” Frydenberg said at the Sorrento Writers Festival on Saturday.

“But after 2019, we still believe in miracles.”

Frydenberg answered a question about the Coalition’s campaign performance to an audience of about 300 people who were barred from recording the event. Frydenberg confirmed the accuracy of his comments to this masthead.

The comments reflect the private views of Coalition MPs and party officials who have seen their primary vote collapse from 39 per cent in late February to 35 per cent this week, according to the Resolve Political Monitor, amid policy backflips and the negative impact of Donald Trump.

15th times a charm: Dutton drops by a petrol station in Scoresby, in the outer-eastern Melbourne suburb of Aston.Credit: James Brickwood

Frydenberg – who has previously flirted with running again in Kooyong – on Tuesday said he would not rule out a return to politics.

“I don’t think ambition’s a crime. I’m not rushing back. Life is good on the other side ... Never say never,” the Goldman Sachs executive said at a West Australian newspaper conference on Tuesday.

“[Dutton] is a principled, decent, strong leader and Liberal and I, honestly, hand on heart, want him to become prime minister.”

Dutton was asked about Frydenberg’s political future on Wednesday, as his own destiny as Coalition leader hangs on the election result bucking recent polling.

“I hope Josh does come back one day, I’ve encouraged him to do so. Obviously, he’s not running at this election, so it’s a debate for three years down the track,” Dutton said.

Dutton encouraged Frydenberg to run against teal MP Monique Ryan at this election, even though Frydenberg is widely considered a rival for the Coalition leadership.

Long-held discipline from Coalition MPs has been tested by the faltering campaign. One MP, who spoke anonymously to discuss internal party dynamics, said Dutton needed to drive Albanese into minority government and gain at least five to 10 seats to remain Liberal leader.

“There is nobody brave enough to broach the leadership topic among colleagues yet,” the MP said. “But people are no doubt thinking in smaller groups and considering options.”

Another MP said unlike after the last election when Dutton was the clear successor, the weaker field of replacements for Dutton meant any leadership contest would likely be messy.

“Calls will begin on Saturday night if it goes badly,” they said.

Several MPs said Dutton had worked up goodwill among right-wing and moderate MPs, meaning knives would only be out if the result were dire. Shadow ministers Angus Taylor, Sussan Ley, Andrew Hastie and Dan Tehan are all contenders should the Liberal Party change leadership.

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