At the state level, Labor has legitimised the idea of a ‘tough’ approach by claiming to offer it – then have been thrashed by oppositions promising to be even tougher
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Peter Dutton is a politician born of desperate times.
When he was preselected to run for the seat of Dickson, before the 2001 election, the former Queensland police constable wasn’t considered much of a chance of winning. Labor had won the neighbouring seat of Ryan at a byelection with a 10% swing.
