25-04-2025
Peter Dutton has played a game of two-up and poured beers for North Queensland punters in rowdiest campaign event yet
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was mobbed by punters at the Townsville RSL on Anzac Day, candidly playing a game of two-up and pouring beers for the rowdy crowd.
Mr Dutton has so far had a subdued campaign, opting for staged events, but Friday's stop was a different story entirely.
The Opposition Leader waded through the packed venue of revellers, who quickly crowded around to see what all the fuss was about.
Mr Dutton was swamped by hundreds of local patrons, as he posed for photos and selfies and shook hands with veterans and active service members.
One man could be heard saying 'I've already voted for you mate', whilst another endearingly stated: 'You'll win Dutto'.
Mr Dutton, a former police officer was at one point stationed in Townsville, telling a local woman that he 'lived up here many years ago as a policeman' and that he 'enjoyed Townsville, it's come a long way'.
He then entered a section of the RSL where a crowd of more than 100 young people were playing an enthusiastic game of two-up.
The Opposition Leader, beer in hand, joined in on the game as the spinner, with his unsuccessful coin tosses booed by the crowd, who had evidently placed contrary wagers.
However, Mr Dutton's last toss sent the crowd into overdrive, as the onlookers erupted into ear piercing cheers of approval.
As Mr Dutton exited the crammed circle, the crowd could be heard bellowing 'shoey, shoey, shoey', encouraging the Opposition Leader to scull his full glass of XXXX from his boot.
He politely declined the offer to drink the beer out of his shoe, opting to sip from the plastic cup instead.
He was then ushered behind the overflowing bar, asking 'what are we pouring, the gold? as he gingerly poured schooners of XXXX for eager punters.
The manager of the establishment said, 'look at that, now you've got to drink it' with another man commenting 'that's a bit flat that'.
Townsville, located in the LNP-held seat of Herbert, has the highest concentration of current or former military personnel anywhere in Australia, and is the country's largest garrison city.
Almost one in 10 of the 180,000-strong population served or are serving, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Mr Dutton also announced that a Coalition government would commit $150,000 to the 80-year celebration of Victory in the Pacific in Townsville, matching contributions from the local council and the Queensland state government.
Earlier on Friday a stolen ute delayed the Townsville Anzac Day parade, forcing the march off the street.
The north Queensland city's Thuringowa march was set to start at 9am but was delayed 20 minutes while organisers diverted marchers off the road and onto the footpath.
Queensland Police said initial information indicated a stolen RAM utility had earlier been involved in several hit-and-run traffic crashes in Thuringowa.
"As a precaution the parade was diverted onto nearby pathways instead of proceeding along the main roadway," a police spokesperson said.
