The article highlights the contrasting perceptions of honesty and trustworthiness between Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese. While Albanese initially held a lead in this measure, Dutton gained the advantage last July, but Albanese has recently regained the lead in the latest survey. This suggests that Dutton's recent mistakes are impacting public perception.
The article cites several instances of inaccuracies and misleading statements made by Dutton, including:
These inaccuracies, while perhaps overlooked during the off-season, are now attracting increased scrutiny during the active election campaign.
The article points to a deeper challenge for Dutton beyond isolated misstatements: a lack of a comprehensive, forward-looking policy agenda. His previous strategy of criticizing Labor is proving insufficient, and his policies, such as proposed tax cuts, lack the detail to address the apparent economic concerns he and his party have highlighted.
The article concludes that the cumulative effect of Dutton's misleading statements is a larger problem for his campaign than for Albanese's. While previously such statements went largely unnoticed, they are now becoming a significant cost during the election campaign as voters pay closer attention.