Anthony Albanese unleashes about ‘toxic masculinity’ – as he vows not to adopt Trump-style campaign tactics

Anthony Albanese has vowed not to adopt Trump-style campaign tactics in the lead-up to the 2025 federal election.

When asked about Donald Trump’s election win, which was largely supported by young male voters, Mr Albanese expressed concern over right-wing appeals to ‘toxic masculinity’.

‘One of the key voting blocs that returned Trump to power in the US was young men.  How do you plan to reach young men?’ he was asked by The Daily Aus host Billi FitzSimons.

‘What we won’t do is engage in some of the campaign strategies that we’ve seen from some of the right internationally,’ he said.

‘This toxic masculinity that is being appealed to is a concern. That doesn’t benefit society as a whole,’ he said. 

‘We need to work towards bringing together a common interest, from my perspective of young men and young women, both have an interest in a strong economy. 

‘Both have an interest in equity, both have an interest in the planet that they are inheriting and that their children will inherit as well.’ 

Opposition leader Peter Dutton, though, has warned that young men are ‘fed up’ of being painted like ogres in a post #MeToo world, as he claims the ‘woke agenda’ has gone too far.

Mr Dutton said in the US and elsewhere young males felt ‘disenfranchised and ostracised’.

‘They’re saying, “Well, hang on, I have nothing but respect for women, and I would never treat my female friends differently than my male friends”,’ Mr Dutton said.

‘”But I’m being told that I’m some sort of ogre, or I have some belief structure which is true to that, which I know is what I hold in my heart.” 

‘I think there’s just a point where people are fed up and they are pushing back and saying, “Well, why am I being overlooked at work for a job, three jobs running when I’ve got a partner at home and she’s decided to stay at home with three young kids.”

‘”And I want a promotion at work so that I can help pay the bills at home”, and so I think all of that has morphed.’

Mr Dutton said no one should be discriminated against on the basis of gender or race. 

On the Daily Aus interview video, FitzSimons put it to Mr Albanese that globally there has been a shift to the right in politics and that to be reelected, Labor will need to buck that trend. 

‘What is your plan to do that,’ she asked the Prime Minister. 

‘Our plan is to put forward that we have been an orderly, good government that has governed through difficult global inflationary times,’ he replied.

‘But these have been turbulent seas, but we’ve kept our eye on the horizon. And what we’ve done is, we’ve got lower inflation, higher wages and low unemployment.’

Mr Albanese said that amounted to ‘a good record’, then added that ‘We’ll have an offer as well, of why people will be better off in three years’ time if they vote for a Labor government.

He said Peter Dutton’s ‘pitch’ for the election begins with the word ‘back’ – but it’s actually ‘Let’s get Australia back on track’.

The Prime Minister’s misquoting of the Coalition slogan was not picked up on though, and he said ‘Australia can’t afford to go back. Back to a time where the prime minister had six portfolios, where wages were going down, inflation was going up. 

‘And people weren’t being respected for who they are and our relationship with China was terrible. We can’t afford to go back.’

Mr Albanese ended his interview by promising to return for a leader’s debate with Mr Dutton during the election campaign, saying that even if the Opposition leader didn’t want to do it, he would ‘turn up anyway’.