Q: The Prime Minister ruled out negotiating over PBS and said you won’t undermine our biosecurity, would you like to see any of those other negotiating tables to secure an exemption for the next round?

Dutton:

No, and I agree with the Prime Minister’s position and I would say this that I will stand up for our country’s interest every day, if given the great honour of being Prime Minister of this country I will not compromise in relation to issues that have national significance and importance to us. I will always make the decision to keep our country safe and I’ll stand up for our interest and negotiate the best possible outcome for Australia and I will not compromise on any of that for our country.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton at a press conference after visiting the Marnong Winery, on the northern outskirts of Melbourne on day 4 of his 2025 Federal Election Campaign in the seat of Calwell, Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

On the tariffs, Dutton walks a very fine line:

The President of the United States will stand up for America, I’ll stand up for Australia. It seems the Prime Minister is not able to stand up for our national security and is not able to stand up for homebuyers, is not able to stand up for families, he is not able to stand up against people who are trying to do a deal that is not in our country’s best interest. I have the strength of leadership and experience to be able to stand up to the President of the United States or anyone else if they are acting against our countries interest and I… I will always take the best interest of our country is the objective is Prime Minister and I think I have demonstrated that we negotiated to the AUKUS agreement and stood up for ourselves in international fora. That is it that I would do.