Opposition Leader takes Coalition campaign back to Melbourne

The Opposition Leader has spent the day in Melbourne visiting a charity and a number of small businesses.

Transcript

00:00So Peter Dutton is continuing his campaign today in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne,

00:07making a lunch stop here for some yum cha with members of the Chinese community in the seat of Chisholm.

00:14He was alongside Liberal candidate Katie Allen.

00:17This seat is held by Labor's Carina Garland on a margin of 3.3%.

00:22A significant factor in the Morrison government's 2022 election loss was the backlash from Chinese Australians

00:29arising from its hawkish rhetoric on China.

00:33Peter Dutton is attempting to repair the damage that caused with a large cohort of voters,

00:38especially in parts of Melbourne and Sydney.

00:42Now, the opposition leader also stopped over in the seat of Dunkley, held by Labor on a margin of 6.8%.

00:50He went to a charity supporting mothers and women fleeing domestic violence.

00:55Like the Prime Minister, Peter Dutton was also asked about the comments of US President Donald Trump overnight,

01:01where President Trump said he's aware of Australia's attempts to discuss trade and will talk to Anthony Albanese.

01:08Here's what Mr Dutton had to say on that.

01:10An amazing revelation, but refreshing to know that President Trump has a phone.

01:16So we're told by the Prime Minister he may not have a phone.

01:19I don't know why the Prime Minister can't just be honest.

01:22I mean, just say, look, I don't have his number.

01:24Why do you have to say that I don't think he owns a phone?

01:26It just seems strange.

01:27It's like falling off a stage and then pretending there's no footage of you falling off a stage.

01:31It sort of gets weirder and weirder by the day.

01:33Look, I want a functioning relationship between the US President and the Australian Prime Minister.

01:38It's in our country's best interests.

01:39If that happens, clearly it's not the case at the moment.

01:42So Peter Dutton there referencing a point of contention in the last leaders debate

01:47where he and Anthony Albanese clashed on the Prime Minister's relationship with the US President.