Overview

• Peter Dutton, speaking at a Melbourne rally, called the ABC and The Guardian 'hate media' and urged supporters to focus on voter sentiment rather than media coverage.
• Dutton expressed confidence in a Coalition victory, despite Resolve polling indicating Labor holds a 53.5% lead in two-party preferred terms.
• The ABC, a longstanding target of Coalition criticism, faces renewed scrutiny, with Dutton previously demanding it justify its $1 billion annual funding or risk cuts.
• Dutton's comments reflect ongoing tensions between the Coalition and the ABC, dating back to a 2018 Liberal Party federal council vote favoring the broadcaster's privatization.
• This escalation comes in the final week of a tightly contested campaign, as Dutton attempts to consolidate support ahead of the May 3 election.