The new Liberal leader has been described as a hell of a hard-headed right determined to pursue an ultra-conservative political agenda, but it may well be the perfect role for Labor as economic and geopolitical uncertainty begins to bite.
Fortunately, a change of government in Australia is peaceful and hassle-free.
Those who have the kingdoms pass them on to the victors, and with that, responsibility and accountability pass.
Within the losing side, the search for the soul often begins with a change of leadership and direction.
There has been a lot of talk about opposition leader Peter Dutton.
In fact, the highlight is the speed with which the media tried to define his character from the moment the loss of government became inevitable.
It has been released as a hard-right hard; hell determined to impose an ultra-conservative policy (whatever it is) on Australia.
The great hope for the new government and its alternative media is that the wider electorate will eliminate Dutton before he has a chance to show how effective he can be as a leader.
The kicker is this: he is a leader.
Of course, management skills can be learned and perfected, but the intuition and firmness that leadership entails is something you have or don’t have.
My first reservations about Dutton as a leader were based solely on his ability to engage the wider electorate, given the way he has been positioned by the media.
In Australia few have had the benefit of meeting Peter Dutton, who speaks softly and self-critically, who sits next to the court.
It is virtually impossible to have a soft, fluffy exterior when your media exposure focuses on threats to national security, the deportation of criminals, and the prevention of child sex trafficking.
Just because you use your hammer regularly in the office doesn’t mean it’s the only tool you have.
This is already evident in his willingness to take into account the proposal of the voice of Labor in Parliament and to take responsibility for the above mistakes.
He seems to balance principles and pragmatics.
In addition, Dutton holds a marginal seat in the suburbs of Brisbane, which he won over Labor leader Cheryl Kernot in 2001, a seat he has held ever since, regardless of the Liberal Party’s electoral fortunes.
Occupying a marginal seat requires a personal position to avoid the changing political winds, competition and continued commitment to the community.
Opponents of Dutton refuse to admit that he is all of these things because, on their own, it would trigger the caricature they have done at work.
And as the Liberal Party seeks to focus on winning seats in the suburbs and the Australian region, Dutton’s experience will be invaluable in executing this strategy.
Similarly, policy development for Middle Australia and small businesses can be more easily achieved with the input of someone who has been there and understands the imperatives.
That said, managing energy policy and reorienting women’s suffrage, among other things, will be challenges for Dutton and the Coalition in general.
A big part of leadership is knowing what you believe in, genuinely engaging with the electorate, and developing a policy based on those beliefs and collaboration.
This focus was greatly lost in the last government; a crisis was lost, reform was ignored, and precious time was lost in government by focus group policy.
I don’t see Dutton as a panacea for the Liberals’ problems, but I don’t think he would allow the party to make the same mistakes again.
The long and short is that it is a safe pair of hands.
Compare that to the almost panicked scenario in the weaker parts of the Ministry of Labor, as they realize that they cannot say and do what they want in the rarefied and carefree air of the opposition.
Chris Bowen’s immediate reaction to blaming instead of solving the gas supply problem is sufficient proof of a limited arsenal and inexperience.
However, given Australia’s disillusionment with the two main parties, it would not be prudent to expect the electorate to tolerate the change of blame as economic and geopolitical uncertainty begins to bite.
So much hope has been promised and the margin of error is small.
Ultimately, Labor cannot play in opposition to the government.
And a Dutton-led coalition will not let them down.