The Opposition leader Peter Dutton is vying to be Australia's next prime minister but first, he has to win his seat - Queensland's most marginal electorate. Mr Dutton's incumbency spans more than twenty years, making it no easy task for his challengers in Dickson.
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00:00The old Petrie town markets are always pumping on a Sunday.
00:14Sharon Hill Lavender juggles two jobs, opening her shop here eight years ago.
00:20We run at a loss here, but it's our dream, so that's why we do it.
00:24Business here, and our north-west of Brisbane, is patchy.
00:28The cost of living has changed everything. No one's got the money for fun stuff.
00:32Market goers echo her concerns.
00:35The cost of living, I'd say, is probably a big one.
00:37Yeah, environmental issues.
00:40Interest rates, immigration, jobs.
00:45I don't think anyone's finding it easy.
00:47So, cost of groceries, everything is going up.
00:52Dixon is a sprawling and varied electorate,
00:55encompassing fast-growing metropolitan areas with semi-rural pockets to the west.
01:01It is a wonderful part of the world, and I have been so fortunate to call many of you,
01:06as I look around this audience, friends for that entire journey.
01:10Peter Dutton has been the local MP since 2001.
01:14A great honour to be here as the people's representative from Dixon.
01:19Mr Dutton holds the seat on a razor-thin margin of less than 2%,
01:24making it Queensland's most marginal electorate.
01:27But one expert believes his high profile, coupled with Dixon's cost-of-living struggles,
01:32could give the opposition leader a much healthier buffer.
01:36Peter Dutton is safe in that seat.
01:38If the Labor Party couldn't pick up the seat of Dixon at the height of Anthony Albanese's
01:42popularity in 2022, they're certainly not going to pick up now.
01:46Yet, Labor hopeful Ailey France insists this time, her third attempt,
01:51she could get over the line.
01:53The issues that are important to me as a single mum and a person with a disability
01:58are the issues that are affecting everyday people here in Dixon,
02:02and that's cost-of-living.
02:04And a new challenger has entered the fray.
02:06Despite the backing of the Climate 200 movement,
02:09Ellie Smith calls herself a Marrone rather than a Teal.
02:13There's a lot of sentiment out in the community that's against both of the major parties.
02:18They feel neglected by both parties,
02:21and they like the idea of having an independent representing them.
02:24Back at the markets, Peter Dutton's name provoked mixed reactions from his constituents.
02:30Because I don't like him.
02:32Any reason?
02:34Just lack of empathy.
02:36He's certainly better than the incumbent.
02:38I don't like any of them really.
02:39I don't think the major parties really are speaking very well for Australians.
02:44He's not going to be one of them.
02:46But I don't think it's a bit of about a bit.
02:48Cause you, you know,
02:49one of them really want to say is this very important thing,
02:50and you don't want to talk about the evidence.
02:51Do you think there's a big difference now ?
02:53Do you think there's a big difference now,
02:54where you want to bump your head?
02:56Do you think there's a big difference here?
02:57What are we all then?
02:58What's your goal now?
02:59Do you think there will be a larger part?
03:00Do you think there's a big difference there?
03:01If you don't do not know,
03:03and there's a big difference.