Opposition Leader Peter Dutton launches new campaign ahead of election promising to get Australia ‘back on track’

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has attempted to show off a softer side to his political personality by debuting a new ad where he promises to get Australia “back on track”.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has attempted to debut a softer side to his political persona, launching a new advertisement ahead of the federal election promising to get the country “back on track”.

In the campaign, Mr Dutton reflects on his life as a police officer and small business owner while pledging to stand up to “vested interests”.

The new campaign follows recent criticism of his political persona, most notably from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who called him “cold-hearted, mean spirited” and “sometimes just plain nasty” on ABC Radio.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has debuted a new ad where he shows off a softer side to his political persona, pledging to get Australia ‘back on track’. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Albanese had criticised Mr Dutton as being “cold-hearted” and “mean spirited”. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

In the ad, Mr Dutton claims to have seen the “best and worst of our society” through his experience in the Queensland Police.

has shown off his softer side in a new ad that promises to get Australia “back on track” and reflects on his life as a police officer and small business owner.

“It could be confronting at times, but sometimes we were the only thing between vulnerable people and serious harm,” he states in the clip.

“So I learned the importance of always turning up and getting on with the job.”

Mr Dutton explains his time running a small business taught him about the “responsibility that came with employing 40 people” - and how this translated into his work as an MP.

“I learned that a strong economy and a safe community are central to everything, but you sometimes need to stand up to vested interests and always make decisions in our national interest,” he says in the video.

“The right decisions aren’t always popular, but I’m not interested in taking the easy path because we live in the best country in the world, and I’m determined to get Australia back on track.”

In the ad, Mr Dutton talks about his experience as a police officer and Howard government minister. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Liberal MP Anthony Violi told Sky News it was important for the party to have strong policies and share information about who they were and what they cared about.

He said people often had an opinion about anyone who had spent as long in politics as his party’s leader, but Mr Dutton was able to use his platform to share more about his small business background, values and how he wants to support Australians.

“What we see in Peter Dutton is a leader that’s prepared to make the tough decisions to get us back on track, to fix the challenges that we have when it comes to the economy and social cohesion to make sure we are safe and secure as a nation,” he said.

The latest Newspoll results reveal most voters believe Mr Dutton will win the next election.

Satisfaction with Mr Albanese fell to 44 per cent with a net negative rating of minus 20 in the latest results - marking the lowest for the PM since he took office.

Mr Dutton’s approval rating climbed from a low of 22 per cent in September 2022 to 41 per cent in the latest poll.

The result is the lowest for the PM since taking office, with Opposition leader Peter Dutton climbing from a low of 22 per cent in September 2022 to 41 per cent.

The Coalition was again leading the incumbent Labor by a margin of 51-49 on a two-party preferred basis.
However, Mr Albanese still leads as preferred prime minister by 44 per cent, to Mr Dutton’s 41 per cent.

Originally published as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton launches new campaign ahead of election promising to get Australia ‘back on track’