Most politicians I have observed since I began taking an interest in politics about 60 years ago seemed well-meaning and pleasant people (at least those in the democracies), but few really make you feel comfortable and engaged.

Some are quite scary due to their stupidity and naivety. In that group, I’d put Jim Cairnes, Chris Bowen, Jeremy Corbyn and Senator Bernie Sanders. Some seemed pretty hopeless but entertaining, like Gough Whitlam, Joe Biden and Billy McMahon. A few made you feel comfortable and exuded competence. The leaders who did that to me were JFK (yes I am old enough to remember him) Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Pope John Paul II and John Howard (he grew on you—he was rather nerdy in the 1980s). It helped that they believed in many of the same things I did. Bob Hawke wasn’t bad either.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to see Peta Credlin’s interview with Peter Dutton. Dutton is a leader. He clearly has values and knows right from wrong. He understands that anti-Semitism is wrong, and he seems prepared to make hard decisions. It was drummed into us when I did officer training with the ARES that the test of a good leader was would you be comfortable allowing your son or daughter to go to war with that officer? (Now, I wouldn’t be all that comfortable going to war with myself!) But the question is not all that different from asking yourself: would you be confident in trusting a person to be your PM? Watching Dutton answering Peta Credlin’s questions, I felt very comfortable with him—indeed reassured, much like John Howard but if anything, even more sincere.

Contrast that to poor old Albo. He does not come across as sincere. He seems to be floundering and has difficulty giving a straight answer to even simple questions. He is not across his brief. He seems paralysed by indecision. He should have seized control on 7 October 2023 and come down hard on anti-Semitism then. He equivocates with even the simplest problems. Indecision in a leader is fatal. 

Dutton also has had great life experience. He has had various jobs, including running and growing a small business, being a Detective Senior Constable in the Queensland Police, and working as a part-time butcher as a young bloke. Poor old Albo in comparison has only ever been involved in Politics and has only had outside experience as a bank Clerk for about one year. 

Now, I don’t blame Albo for being cautious in how he answers questions about Trump and Ukraine. To his credit, he has backed Ukraine. Dutton has not only supported Ukraine but has also been strongly critical of Trump’s lack of support for Ukraine and his apparent appeasement of Moscow.

Albo sadly is no leader and Dutton is. Should he win the election he has the potential to be a great PM.