Dutton doubles down on ABC criticism, urging voters to ignore ‘hate media’ and trust conversations on the ground ahead of the May 3 election.
With just three days until Australians choose their next prime minister, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has offered some cheeky advice for election night: steer clear of the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
The opposition leader was asked what makes for a good Saturday night party. His answer? Responsible drinking—and avoiding the national broadcaster.
“I think alcohol is the first essential ingredient, I’m sure of that … responsible drinking as well,” Dutton said on Melbourne’s Fox 101.9 FM.
“But not watching the ABC—that would be a good start for the young ones listening at home.”
Dutton also laughed off his campaign bus getting stuck on a median strip in Sydney’s CBD.
“I just think … they’re drinking and eating too much on the plane, obviously these journalists, and so there’s extra weight on the bus, and that’s the only explanation,” he quipped.
‘Quiet Australians’ and One Last Push
This is the second time that Dutton has taken a dig at ABC. Addressing supporters on April 27, Dutton rallied his base with a familiar line.
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“Forget about what you have been told by the ABC, in The Guardian, and the other hate media,” he said.
“Listen to what you hear on the doors, listen to what people say on the pre-polling, know in your hearts we are a better future for our country.”
He said the Coalition still had a path to victory, crediting “quiet Australians”—a phrase coined by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2019—for the party’s internal optimism.
“We stand up for the values that are important, more than ever, for families and small businesses, if we stay true to our values and have a strength of leadership,” Dutton said.
He claimed voters in outer suburbs felt Labor had failed them, and Coalition polling showed marginal seat momentum.
Media Favouritism Under Fire
Criticising the media is not new. In May 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also had things to say about right-wing media outlets for cheerleading Dutton.
He told the ANU’s Democracy Sausage podcast some outlets had become “stenographers” for the Liberal leader.
Albanese criticised coverage of Labor’s revised stage three tax cut policy and accused some newspapers and commentators of abandoning balance.
“Journalism has become more difficult,” he said. “Journalists are under enormous pressure to produce things almost instantaneously.”
He said early coverage of Labor’s changes was so biased that “if you showed it to some of the journalists, they might be embarrassed by some of the commentary that was there.
“They’re not talking about any of those issues now.”
