Peter Dutton has been a nationally recognised political figure for decades, but the would-be prime minister is yet to be tested at a general election.
And as his opponent Anthony Albanese’s gaffe-filled start to the 2022 campaign demonstrated, even the most seasoned politicians can stumble under the bright lights of their first national race.
A belief that Dutton will outperform Albanese on the campaign trail is shared by many on both sides of the aisle, setting up the prospect of a hung parliament.
But for all Albanese’s weaknesses on the campaign trail, three decades in the building may give him an edge in one key area that would prove vital if that's the outcome of the election: negotiation.
