• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Australia's Labor Snags Victory as Dutton's Hawkish Strategy Falls Flat

Sputnik News

20250503

Anthony Albanese and his Labor party have pulled off a comeback win in Australia's federal election, beating the right-wing Coalition to keep the PM seat.

Back in January, polls had Labor sinking - trailing 47% to 53% per a Roy Morgan poll.

So, what happened?

• Peter Dutton tried to channel Donald Trump with a "Make Australia Great Again" slogan, but it fell flat, especially as the US president unleashed his tariff war
• Labor gained ground by framing him as "DOGE-y Dutton," and warning of economic instability under a Coalition government
• By late April polls showed Labor leading by up to nine points
• Dutton faced the ultimate humiliation - losing his own long-held seat in Dickson

Dutton's Tough Talk

• The hardliner pushed for ramped-up military aid to Ukraine
• Vowed as PM to "lobby the President of the United States to reconsider his position in relation to Ukraine because I think it is in all of our collective best interest if we are able to provide support to Ukraine."
• Singled out China as the biggest threat to Australia's national security at the final leaders' debate.
• Claimed: "The only way that you can preserve peace is to prepare for war."

© Sputnik