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AAP
AAP
Tess Ikonomou

Campaign gets saucy as Dutton dons tongs to snag votes

Peter Dutton has cooked up an Easter feast, in the hope a democracy sausage will win votes. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

As millions of Australians celebrated Easter, Peter Dutton flipped sausages at a barbecue in his home state of Queensland.

Joined by his wife Kirilly and their spoodle Ralph, the opposition leader visited the suburb of Brassall in Ipswich on Sunday morning.

Located in the seat of Blair, the Liberals are trying to wrest the electorate from Labor MP Shayne Neumann, who holds it on a 4.02 per cent margin.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and his dog Ralphie
Mr Dutton brings out the big guns, pet pooch Ralphie, in his bid to win over voters. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Mr Dutton and his local candidate Carl Mutzelburg, met with party supporters and members of the community at a park, helping cook up a spread of sausages, and bacon and egg rolls.

The opposition leader also handed out chocolate Easter eggs.

A teenager was speaking to Mr Dutton about his shift at a local supermarket later that day, saying he was pleased to be getting double pay. 

Labor has placed penalty rates at the centre of Easter campaigning, as the two major parties attempt to nail down their messaging before hundreds of early voting centres start opening across the country from Tuesday.

The opposition leader has labelled the government's election pledge to enshrine penalty rates in law a "stunt," as Labor sought to land blows against the coalition on industrial relations policy.

In remarks to reporters following the barbecue, Mr Dutton said Australians lived in the best country in the world.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton at a community barbecue
Hats off to family, friends and community, the important things in life according to Mr Dutton. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

"It's on these public holidays that we come together and play a bit of sport or eat and drink together," he said.

"Remember what is important in life, and what is important is family, our friends and our society, our community, and doing whatever we can to make sure that the future of this great country will always be exactly that."

The opposition leader urged motorists to take care on the road over the long weekend.

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