Albanese and Dutton target key electorates

With the unofficial election campaign well under way, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton spent the past week in strategically chosen regions.

While the election has yet to be called, the leaders’ latest movements reveal much about their priorities and the narratives they are shaping to consolidate support.

The prime minister spent his week in Labor-held seats, some with comfortable margins, sparking questions about his strategy. His announcements focused on investments in healthcare, infrastructure, and emissions reductions. In Shortland (Labor 5.8 per cent), Mr Albanese unveiled plans for a new Urgent Care Clinic, while in Paterson (Labor 3.3 per cent), he announced support for decarbonising a local aluminium smelter, promising job creation alongside emissions reductions. In Newcastle (Labor 18.0 per cent) he announced a funding deal with the University of Newcastle. Meanwhile, in the south-western Sydney seats of Werriwa (Labor 5.5 per cent) and Macarthur (Labor 8.5 per cent), he announced a A$1 billion infrastructure investment for western Sydney.

Two potential explanations emerge for Mr Albanese’s focus on these areas: confidence, or fear. By campaigning in safer Labor seats, Mr Albanese may be demonstrating confidence in Labor’s hold on its marginal seats. Strengthening support in traditional strongholds could bolster Labor’s overall position, helping it weather potential swings in more volatile electorates. Alternatively, the focus might indicate concerns about a shift in voter sentiment. For example, the Hunter Valley’s historical ties to coal mining make it a politically sensitive area, particularly regarding climate policy. Similarly, south-western Sydney — facing acute cost-of-living pressures — could become a flashpoint for voter dissatisfaction. In addressing these issues through targeted announcements, Mr Albanese might be attempting to inoculate Labor against criticisms that it is out of touch with working-class concerns.

Mr Dutton spent much of his week in Labor-held seats along Sydney’s Parramatta River, all of which have swung away from the Liberals in recent elections. His stops included Reid (Labor 5.2 per cent), a bellwether seat with Liberal roots that Labor captured in 2022; Parramatta (Labor 4.6 per cent), a historically marginal seat that leans more towards Labor following recent redistributions; and Bennelong (Labor 1.0 per cent), a traditional Liberal stronghold that fell to Labor in 2022, helped by Greens preferences. Mr Dutton also visited Eden-Monaro (Labor 8.2 per cent), a seat long regarded as a bellwether for broader electoral trends.

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