Dutton responded, “balanced and great for our country”.

After years of relentlessly focusing on the downsides of immigration, the answer illustrates a shift in Dutton’s tone, as he tries to win over voters in the diaspora community, some of whom turned away from the Coalition at the last election.

Peter Dutton at a forum held at the Blacktown Workers Club in north west Sydney on Friday. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

Dining on dumplings

It was a clear signal that the Opposition leader would be building a multicultural message into his campaign.

Peter Dutton visited a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane for yum cha. Source: Supplied

The review of the 2022 Liberal election campaign identified that Scott Morrison’s Liberal government had alienated Chinese Australian voters, many of whom had supported the Coalition in previous elections, and this had cost them crucial seats.

“There are more than 1.2 million people of Chinese heritage living in Australia today. Rebuilding the party’s relationship with the Chinese community must be a priority during this term of parliament.”

Key policy remains a concern

This is in contrast to the alienation many felt when former Liberal leader Scott Morrison was prime minister, and COVID-19 pandemic rhetoric from the Liberal Party was considered “anti-Chinese”.

The Coalition argues that a post-pandemic migration surge has put too much pressure on services and contributed to a lack of available housing stock for renters and buyers.

“Admittedly there is a housing crisis, but the housing crisis can be solved quite easily by allowing people to build more houses.”

Voters doing it tough

Many of the target seats are marginal electorates in suburbs on the fringes of major cities — like the electorate of McKewen in Melbourne where Dutton sat with the Xavier family this week watching as they piled their bills on the table and explained how hard it was to afford a decent standard of living.

Peter Dutton visits Fulbert Xavier, Priya Xavier and their son, Aidan Xavier in Donnybrook, north of Melbourne on Wednesday. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

The family who came to Australia from India wanting a better life is still undecided about which party they will vote for in the election.

Dutton’s unexpected mosque visit

“Many disagree with his ideas, but as a place of God — everyone is welcome,” he said.

Peter Dutton visits the Al Madinah Mosque in Leppington last Sunday. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

In the wake of that visit Dutton was pressed to confirm whether he would keep Labor’s special envoys to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia — both of which were created to address concerns about social cohesion.

The mosque trip came directly after Dutton’s visit to an Assyrian Christian festival in Sydney, where he mingled with hundreds of people taking selfies and shaking his hand. In this community he is praised for his role as part of the former government that helped them reach Australia.

Peter Dutton at the Assyrian New Year celebrations held in Fairfield last Sunday. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

Details of migration cuts remain unclear

“There are many migrant families I’ve spoken to around the country who are desperately worried for their kids, they’re second and third generation migrants, they’ve come to this country looking for opportunity, and their kids can’t afford to buy a house.”