00:00Well, opposition leader Peter Dutton today was met with a rousing reception by about
00:06150 Liberal Party faithful who packed the Mount Waverley Centre behind me in order to
00:12witness his campaign launch.
00:14Now, today the Coalition launched a new slogan called Get Australia Back on Track, where
00:20the primary focus really was the cost of living.
00:23In his speech today, Peter Dutton really outlined and reiterated many of his existing priorities
00:29and policies, such as reducing the cost of living, curtailing the nation's migration
00:34program, having a tough approach to crime, addressing housing affordability, as well
00:40as delivering nuclear power.
00:42Now that last pledge in particular has been quite controversial in some sectors.
00:47Today a modest group of about two dozen gathered outside this centre to object Peter Dutton's
00:52promise to introduce nuclear energy.
00:54They urged him instead to consider renewables.
00:57Inside he wasn't swayed, notably as part of his pitch to become the next Prime Minister.
01:04Mr Dutton sought to, in his words, remind Australians of who he was, speaking about
01:09his background and his childhood.
01:11Let's take a listen to what he had to say today.
01:14I was born into an outer suburbs working class family.
01:18Mum and Dad, a secretary in Bricklayer, didn't have much money but they worked every day
01:22of their life.
01:23From grade 7, many many years ago, through to university, I threw newspapers, had a lawn
01:28mower run.
01:29I worked in a butcher shop after school and on Saturdays, from grade 7 until I started
01:35uni.
01:36I have saved diligently over those years and it allowed me to put together a deposit for
01:43a house.
01:44And I bought my first home at age 19, one of my proudest achievements.
01:50And Leanne, explain the significance of the Coalition picking Chisholm as the place to
01:54launch its campaign.
01:55Yeah, Peter Dutton choosing Victoria as a whole to launch his first election-style campaign
02:02is quite a clear indication of just how crucial this state is in order for the Coalition to
02:08form government.
02:09Currently, the Coalition holds just 10 out of 38 federal seats in Victoria, so clearly
02:14picking up more seats is crucial.
02:17Seats like Chisholm, which is where today's rally was held.
02:21Currently, Chisholm was previously held by the Liberal government.
02:25Labor picked it up at the last federal election with a margin of about 6.4%.
02:29However, that margin is now estimated to have been halved, weakening Labor's position after
02:35the Australian Electoral Commission abolished the nearby seat of Higgins.
02:40Now Katie Allen, who was the former member for Higgins and lost it at the last federal
02:44election, is now running to be the next member of Chisholm.
02:48Today, she described Chisholm as absolutely winnable for the Coalition and key to their
02:53hopes of forming the next government.
02:55The Coalition is hoping that the Albanese government will be the first one-term government
03:00in almost a century.
Comments