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Another issue for Peter Dutton is his alignment with Donald Trump’s rightwing populism on matters such as immigration, defence and cutting so-called government waste.

That was looking quite good for Dutton when the new US president took office and cut a commanding figure.

Albanese and senior Labor strategists didn’t panic as the Coalition inched ahead in the opinion polls midway through 2024. They were confident the contest would tighten and turn in their favour when voters were confronted with the “choice” of a Dutton or an Albanese government.

He is under pressure, though, and facing a ticking clock on questions he refuses to answer – there’s only so much longer he can promise that the gas modelling will come “soon”, that he will announce his public service cuts “at an appropriate time”. He’s getting questions on this nearly daily, and even joking that the “anticipation” of journalists will soon wear off.

Albanese won the week. Even Dutton may admit that. But it’s just one week.

“I’m not getting ahead of myself,” Albanese said. “Elections are hard to win, and there are four weeks left in this campaign.”

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