Australian opposition's pivot to China tested as May poll nears

Leader drops hawkish rhetoric in attempt to win back Chinese-Australian voters

20250410 Peter Dutton and BURWOOD chinatown

Peter Dutton speaks during a federal election campaign news conference in Brisbane, on March 28. The opposition is seeking to win back Chinese-Australian voters such as those pictured in Chinatown in Burwood, a Sydney suburb. (Source photos by Reuters and Sophie Mak)

SOPHIE MAK

April 14, 2025 11:25 JST

MELBOURNE -- Australian opposition leader Peter Dutton's adoption of a friendlier stance toward China has drawn a skeptical response from Chinese-Australians, who are expected to play a critical role in deciding the May 3 federal election.

Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal-National Coalition and prime ministerial hopeful, last year said he was "pro-China and the relationship that we have with them" in a marked shift from his formerly hawkish rhetoric.