Peter Dutton's law and order campaign makes local crime a national election issue
ABCIt’s a catchphrase many of us have heard from politicians time and time again – a pledge to be “tough on crime,” or a “law and order” government. “We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news.” Tough on crime wins NT and Qld, but fails ‘vulnerable children’ Back on home soil, tough on crime rhetoric proved successful for the Country Liberal Party in the Northern Territory and the LNP in Queensland at their local elections last year. A Roy Morgan survey published earlier this year found; “public anxiety about safety has escalated significantly with reducing crime and maintaining law and order jumping 10 per cent points to 23 per cent - the largest increase for any issue.” Dutton has pledged extra money for Crime Stoppers, to implement uniform knife laws and to work with states and territories to crack down on street violence. After a thrashing at the Victorian state election in 2018, a review conducted by the state Liberal party found the campaign’s focus law and order and “African gangs,” didn’t resonate with voters.
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