In the lead-up to the recent election, both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have been tirelessly campaigning across Australia, collectively travelling over 102,000 kilometres in just 36 days, a distance comparable to more than 2,400 marathons. This significant effort reflects their determination to gain support in pivotal electorates.
Peter Dutton has outpaced Albanese in travel, covering 54,229 km compared to the Prime Minister’s 47,557 km, although Albanese has made more stops, visiting 23 locations against Dutton’s 17. Both leaders have focused on major urban centres, particularly Sydney and Melbourne, which are seen as battleground areas with a multitude of key seats at stake.
The choice of electorates for their appearances reveals strategic priorities, as they both target seats they believe they can win while also defending those they currently hold. Albanese has made repeated visits to safe Labor electorates like his own in Grayndler but has also ventured into more competitive areas, including Dutton’s seat of Dickson, indicating a growing confidence in Labour’s potential gains.
Dutton, while focusing on seats that his party aims to flip from Labor, has made numerous trips to tangibly contested areas, such as Tangney in Perth and outer-suburban seats known to be pivotal for Liberal success. His campaign has frequently centred around issues appealing to these regions, such as a proposed temporary cut to fuel excise.
Notably, both leaders have also critiqued each other’s campaign tactics. Albanese has spent limited time in regions typically aligned with the Nationals, while Dutton has avoided visiting proposed nuclear plant sites associated with his party’s platform. Instead, he opted for high-visibility locations, such as petrol stations. Conversely, Albanese has leveraged healthcare, often highlighting his Medicare card to reinforce the Labour Party’s commitment to health issues.
Ultimately, the campaign strategies implemented by Albanese and Dutton in these final days offer insights into their electoral ambitions and potential vulnerabilities. By engaging directly with voters in key locations, they are working determinedly to secure support amidst a fiercely competitive political landscape.