Peter Dutton gets a reality check as Nat Barr hits him with a blunt question: ‘Does some of that hurt?’

Sunrise host Natalie Barr has confronted Liberal leader Peter Dutton over new polling showing 45 per cent of voters are not voting the Coalition because of his personality.

The Coalition was the opinion poll favourite leading up to the election but that has now changed, with a Newspoll showing almost half of voters regarded the Opposition Leader as too polarising.

With Labor now leading in the polls, Mr Dutton accused the government of running a scare campaign that falsely claimed he would cut Medicare to fund his nuclear power plan.

‘If you throw mud in the game and put $20million behind it, then it has an impact. In relation to the nuclear figure it’s a complete fabrication,’ he said.

Labor has suggested the Coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear reactors would cost $593billion – significantly more than the $331billion price tag the Opposition’s costings suggest.

Mr Dutton, a former Queensland police detective, said he would continue to focus on tackling crime. 

‘I am a truthful, independent person I have always said during the course of this campaign and the course of my career that I will stand up for what I believe in,’ he said.

‘Sometimes you can make some people unhappy, but I truly believe that crime and law and order is a serious issue and I want to do more to keep our country safe and help families who are really struggling at the moment.’

He pointed to a proposed 25-cent-per-litre fuel tax cut and a $1,200 low and middle-income tax offset as key Coalition policies aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures.  

‘That is what the election will be contested on, not the personalities and mud being thrown by Labor,’ Mr Dutton said.

But Barr disagreed, arguing voter perceptions of his personality would affect people’s vote.

‘It sounds like it will be contested on personality when you have nearly half the electorate in these surveys saying it is your personalities. Does some of that hurt?’

Dutton remained defiant, pointing out that polling ahead of the 2019 election had predicted a Labor victory – but it was ultimately won by then Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison.

‘Australians are hurting. That is the reality. People are going backwards and we’ve what a household recession for nearly two years for families,’  he said.  

‘The question is how can we help people and are people better off after three years of this governmnent. I don’t believe they are.’

He said  Labor is now pouring money into defending its own seats.

‘You will see where the government is spending money at the moment in their defending seats at the moment. They are not on the offensive.’

Barr then highlighted the changing nature of the polling.

‘You were in front a couple of months ago and now you are behind. Are you saying that your internal polling is saying something thank you can win here?’

Dutton insisted he still had a chance.

‘No question about, that Nat. I suspect the internal polling in the Labor Party is doing the same. 

‘Look at The Australian today where they are spending money, they are defending seats and that is the reality. In Victoria, people have had enough of Labor at a state and federal level.’