‘Not a beauty contest': Peter Dutton declares Labor's ‘lies' are hurting him
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have suspended campaigning as a sign of respect for the death of the Pope.
After paying his respects overnight at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne the Prime Minister joined Catholics for an early morning mass shortly before 7am.
The death of Pope Francis comes as early voting opens today with just two weeks left before the federal election on May 3.
Mr Albanese and Peter Dutton will face off in an election debate hosted by Channel 9 at 7.30pm.
Earlier this morning Mr Dutton accused the Prime Minister of 'throwing mud' to damage his standing with voters.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told the ABC this morning that Catholicism was a 'deep part' of Albanese's childhood.
'As someone who was born as a Catholic and raised and went to school at a Catholic school it's been a deep part of his upbringing,' she said.
'He's affected just like many millions of others are.'
'Not a beauty contest': Dutton hits back
Sunrise host Nat Barr has confronted Mr Dutton over whether his personality is turning voters off prompting the Liberal leader to declare the election is 'not a beauty contest'.
Accusing the Prime Minister of telling voters 'lies' about Medicare in the election, Mr Dutton has insisted that the Liberals polling in individual seats is better than the published polls suggest.
Speaking in Orange, NSW, Mr Dutton reflected on the death of the Pope before he was hit with a series of questions on his own performance.
'It is a time for reflection for so many, isn't it? Let's go to the election. Look, the elephant in the room is this polling,' Sunrise host Nat Barr said.
'Forty-five per cent of voters say you are the reason they won't vote for the coalition. How do you correct the course from here?'
'Well, Nat, today is not the day for big politicking, but obviously, the government has thrown mud,' Mr Dutton said.
'Mostly based on a lie, frankly, in relation to the Medicare campaign.
'The bulk-billing rates have dropped under this government. A complete fabrication. I think people realise what the government is saying is built on a lie.
'But if you throw mud in the game and put $20 million behind it, it has an impact.'
Host Nat Barr ploughed on, suggesting 'it sounds like it will be on personality when you have nearly half the electorate saying it is your personality. Does some of that hurt?'
Mr Dutton pointed to the 2019 poll result, where the published polling suggested that Labor leader Bill Shorten would win the election and Scott Morrison was returned as Prime Minister.
'The reality is there was a different outcome. I won't go into the private polling, but you will see where the government is spending money at the moment in their defending seats at the moment,' Mr Dutton said.
'They are not on the offence. Australians are hurting. That is the reality.
'For me, I am a truthful, independent person. I have always said during the course of this campaign and the course of my career Ike will stand up for what I believe in.
'Sometimes you can make some people unhappy, but I truly believe, as we did yesterday, that crime and law and order is a serious issue. I want to do more to keep our country safe and help families who are really struggling at the moment and our 25 cent a litre cut to fuel. That is what the election will be contested on, not the personalities and mud being thrown by Labor.'
Barr noted that the polls had basically flipped in favour of Labor.
'You were in front a couple of months ago and now you are behind. Are you saying that your internal polling is saying that your internal polling is saying something thank you can win?,' she asked.
'No question about that, Nat. Look at The Australian today where they are spending money, they are defending seats and that is the reality. In Victoria, people have had enough of Labor at a state and federal level,' he said.
'I think there are a lot of quiet Australians who are not that interested in politics, … the reality of their own lives the past few years or their neighbour or sister or brother or someone in their family and they know it has not been an easy time.
'It is not a beauty contest.'
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