“He’s become an observer of Australian politics rather than a participant.”
Speaking on the ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday,Dutton pointed to longstanding difficulties in the nation’s second most populous state,saying:“Our brand has suffered terribly in Victoria.”
Despite the loss of the once safe Liberal seat,previously held by Alan Tudge,Dutton said he expected to lead the party to the next election.
“I have a leadership style,which I believe[my colleagues] appreciate,which is why people very strongly are expressing their support to me,” he said.
“But we have a particular problem in Victoria,there is no question about that.”
Senior Liberal figures,including opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume,have rallied behind Dutton following the defeat,saying his hold on the leadership was secure.
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Acknowledging the Liberal Party had “many lessons” to learn from the Aston defeat,Dutton said:“Ours is now an opportunity to rebuild. We will do that over the course of the next couple of years and we will go into the next election in a position that will see us win it.”
The Liberal Party now holds just three seats in Melbourne,a city that previously sent party legends Robert Menzies,Andrew Peacock,Peter Costello into parliament.
Dutton said he was proud the Liberal Party had not gone through a “period of self-destruction” in opposition under his leadership as had occurred in the past.
He said the party needed to better sell its achievements,including on climate change and environmental issues.
“I think in recent years the Liberal Party has allowed itself to be defined by our opponents and I think it’s time for us to take that back,” he said.
“Stand up for what we believe in,whether it’s trendy or not.”
Dutton said he did not tolerate any discrimination but that Australians with conservative views about transgender issues should not be silenced.
The Liberal Party last weeksuspended Victorian state MP Moira Deeming for attending an anti-transgender rights protest in Melbourne that was crashed by neo-Nazis.
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“I think people should have respect and the debate runs two ways,” Dutton said.
“There are very strong views within many parts of Australian society.
“Maybe not right here in the inner-city areas of our country,but in the outer metropolitan areas,this is an issue in terms of women’s rights and the gender issue that has parents and others very worked up.”
Albanese said Doyle’s victory over Liberal candidate Roshena Campbell showed the government’s “positive agenda is being well received”.
He praised Doyle,an organiser with the National Tertiary Education Union,as “an extraordinary individual” and said she would be sworn into parliament on budget day,May 9.
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news,views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weeklyInside Politics newsletter here.