The Australian Coalition is grappling with significant electoral challenges, including what one senior party figure describes as "the Trump factor," as Australians head to the polls today.
Senator James Patterson, who served as the opposition's campaign spokesman, acknowledged the influence of international politics on domestic voting intentions during an interview with ABC Australia.
"One factor I think we can all acknowledge and recognise is the Trump factor. It was devastating in Canada for the Conservatives, where the Canadian Conservative leader, Pierre Poirier, lost 20 points over the course of a few months," Patterson said. "I think it has been a factor here, just how big a factor will determine in a few hours' time, but I think it's been significant."
The Coalition has struggled to gain traction with female voters, particularly professional women in urban settings. Patterson noted this was "one of the consequences of the 2022 election as well" and outlined steps taken to address the issue.
"Some of the things we did to achieve that under Peter Dutton's leadership was have a record number of women on our front bench. No Liberal leader has appointed more women to the front bench than Peter Dutton," Patterson stated, highlighting efforts to reconnect with a crucial demographic.
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