Dutton, PM butt heads at Easter show as voting nears

Baby animals and Vegemite jars couldn't escape the clutches of Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton as the pair hit the hustings at Sydney's Royal Easter Show. Login or signup to continue reading The prime minister and opposition leader visited the annual agricultural extravaganza within hours of each other on Saturday, two weeks out from the May 3 election. Flanked by wife Kirilly and his security detail, Mr Dutton toured cattle yards and strolled through crowds of families, shaking hands and patting livestock as he went.

"Go on Dutton, we need a new prime minister," yelled one man as the shadowing media scrum made its way through a colourful maze of rides, food stalls and the showbag pavilion. "That's Peter Dutton, the next prime minister," a mother told her child as she pointed to the large group. But not everyone was as pleased to see the man vying for the nation's top job.



"Voldemort," one woman sniggered within earshot, as he visited a food stall. Polling is showing sliding support for Mr Dutton, as Labor surges to a new lead. "There are a lot of Australians, frankly, who just haven't switched their mind yet to the choices and what they're doing on election day," he told reporters, undeterred.

"So we've got a lot of time between now and polling day." Hundreds of early voting centres will progressively open across the country from Tuesday, while both major parties try to nail their election pitches as voters go away for the upcoming Anzac Day weekend and school holidays. Mr Albanese's message seems to be having more success cutting through.

"We're not getting ahead of ourselves," he told reporters. "What we're doing is putting forward a careful, calibrated, considered approach to policy development right across the board." The prime minister drew a sizeable crowd as he patted a baby goat alongside partner Jodie Haydon, Education Minister Jason Clare and Mr Clare's son, Jack.

"Eww, it's all over me," Jack cried after being spat on by one of the kids, drawing laughs from the media pack. Delivering welcome news for Vegemite lovers - and Canadians with good taste - Mr Albanese announced Australian Leighton Walters will once again be able to serve the beloved spread at his Toronto cafe after it was banned by Canadian health authorities. "Happy Easter to all those happy little vegemites out there!" Mr Albanese said.

Turning to a more serious topic, the prime minister promised to enshrine penalty rates into law if re-elected, preventing attempts to reduce wages for employees working over the long weekend. He knew the importance of penalty rates for low-paid workers, reflecting on his own experience working late nights at Pancakes on the Rocks. "Penalty rates - that's one of the things that got me through university.

It's so important," Mr Albanese said. Mr Dutton accused Labor of trying to distract voters from the cost of living crisis. "It is a stunt," he said.

Australian Associated Press Daily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Weekdays Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation.

Weekdays Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Weekly Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Weekly Going out or staying in? Find out what's on.

Weekly Love footy? We've got all the action covered. Weekly The latest news, results & expert analysis. Weekly Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update.

Weekly Get the latest property and development news here. Weekly Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Weekdays Sharp.

Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more.

Twice weekly Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Twice weekly Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Weekly Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner.

As it happens Be the first to know when news breaks. Daily Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Daily Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia.

Fresh daily!.