Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has labelled ABC and The Guardian reporters as “biased” and “activists”, doubling down on earlier remarks in which he labelled them “hate media”.
Dutton was interviewed by Sky News host Sharri Markson who stated that Dutton received “hostile interrogations from the press pack” during the election, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is lobbed friendly questions.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton at the Melton election rally.Credit: James Brickwood
Markson asked Dutton if he thought “that sort of media… hate mainstream Australian values”.
Dutton did not challenge the premise of the question when he responded with disparaging remarks about the reporting of his campaign.
“I just think they’re so biased, and many of them just activists, not journalists, that their their position becomes counterproductive, and they’re playing to a particular audience, to a Green voter,” Dutton said.
The Coalition’s support in the polls has ebbed during the campaign, with this masthead’s Resolve Political Monitor finding Labor’s primary vote had risen, and Coalition support had fallen, giving the government a lead of 53.5 per cent in two-party terms.
Dutton first labelled the ABC and The Guardian hate media on Sunday, during a campaign rally in Melbourne.
“Forget about what you have been told by the ABC, in The Guardian and the other hate media. Listen to what you hear [at] the doors, listen to what people say on the pre-polling, know in your hearts we are a better future for our country,” he said.
Speaking on Monday after Dutton’s initial remarks, Coalition finance spokeswoman said her leader’s remarks were jest.
“I doubt you would hear that from me. However, you can safely say that was a tongue-in-cheek comment by Peter Dutton yesterday,” Jane Hume said.
However, Dutton’s decision to take a second dip at his media adversaries left little room for doubt about his opinion.
