Peter Dutton is staying true to his brand as the hard man of Australian politics by telling voters he wants to make the ABC more efficient, stop the “woke” agenda in schools and cut the education and health departments in Canberra.

This is red meat for the conservative base. But will it win him the election? The opposition leader has rammed his flag into a political hill the Liberal faithful dearly want to own. But in the battle for power in 2025, it is the wrong hill.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton in the electorate of Hawke in Melbourne on Wednesday. Credit: James Brickwood

Anthony Albanese, meanwhile, has shown an occasional tetchiness that can undercut his attempt to present a positive agenda for the next three years. The prime minister also made a gaffe earlier this week when trying to rule out a deal with the Greens on forming government.

The difference between the two leaders is that some mistakes are quickly forgotten while others shape the campaign. Albanese has had some patchy moments in his press conferences, but he is positioned where he needs to be – and Dutton is exposed.

The challenge for Dutton was made plain on Wednesday when he took a firmer line against United States President Donald Trump.

“If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump or any other world leader to advance our nation’s interests, I’d........

© The Sydney Morning Herald