<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336392</docID> <postdate>2025-01-12 08:12:53</postdate> <headline>Campaign-style rally to launch Peter Dutton poll pitch</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336393" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250110122172973545-original-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" /></p> <caption>Anthony Albanese (left) and Peter Dutton are in campaign mode as a federal election looms. (A)manda Parkinson/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Emily Verdouw</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>The coalition will begin its push to regain critical ground ahead of a federal election when Opposition Leader Peter Dutton delivers a campaign-style rally in a marginal seat.</strong></p> <p>Mr Dutton's speech in the Melbourne seat of Chisholm on Sunday continues an unusual start to the political year after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched an early campaign blitz last week.</p> <p>The looming federal election must be held by May 17.</p> <p>Griffith University associate professor Paul Williams said the timing of Labor's aggressive early move was a response driven by "fear".</p> <p>"Labor is fearful that the damage is going to be substantial, so they've come out hoping to catch the LNP napping," the political analyst said.</p> <p>"Campaigning in January, full stop, is usually considered a moot point because people aren't paying attention… most people take the whole of January off."</p> <p>Chisholm, held by Dr Carina Garland after Labor won the seat from Liberal Gladys Liu in 2022, has emerged as a critical battleground in suburban Melbourne.</p> <p>Prof Williams said Mr Dutton's focus on the area was indicative of the coalition's shift away from traditional strongholds.</p> <p>"Queensland is not the key to the Lodge for Dutton or Albo," he said.</p> <p>"The keys to the Lodge lie in three places – Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne.</p> <p>"There's no more low-hanging fruit in Queensland… Melbourne is ripe for some coalition gains."</p> <p>Mr Dutton's decision to target Chisholm underscored the challenge he faced in finding the 21 seats needed to secure a majority, Prof Williams said.</p> <p>"Dutton could win 15. Two weeks ago, I would have said 10, but that Morgan poll now has a five per cent swing, so that's 15 seats," he said.</p> <p>"But 15 is still short of 21."</p> <p>The two leaders are employing starkly different strategies.</p> <p>The Albanese government has adopted a "big target" approach, focusing on achievements such as establishing a National Integrity Commission, wage increases for low-income workers and housing reforms.</p> <p>"Governments by definition have to be big-target because they have to defend their records," Prof Williams said.</p> <p>He said Mr Dutton appeared to be adopting a "small target" approach.</p> <p>"It looks as though Dutton is taking a leaf out of the (Premier David) Crisafulli playbook in Queensland," he said.</p> <p>"They had really only two gripes: law and order and cost of living.</p> <p>"We've really only seen two threads from the Dutton leadership - one of course is nuclear power … and the other is this general anti-wokeness.</p> <p>"Dutton keeps fighting the cultural wars."</p> <p>However, cost-of-living issues are expected to dominate the federal campaign.</p> <p>"It will be what we call a material election, meaning it's going to be kitchen table economics," Prof Williams said.</p> <p>"People aren't going to be interested in climate change targets … it's really going to be cost of living, cost of living, cost of living."</p> </body>