The issue with the debate on immigration is not the numbers. Both major parties have committed to cutting the intake of temporary and permanent migrants.

The problem is the way the debate is conducted. In such a tinder dry environment, politicians conscious of community wellbeing take extra care with tone and content.

Illustration: Dionne GainCredit:

Unfortunately, Peter Dutton has not. Not on immigration and not on nuclear energy.

Politicians in strife, desperate to save their backsides, have often reached for dog whistles. These days it’s a loudhailer. It’s cheap and guaranteed to deliver the short-term reward of improved poll numbers. A sugar hit laced with acid.

Ask Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Asian, Indigenous or other people of colour, or those of us who grew up being called wogs or dagoes whether they think racism or bigotry is a serious and growing problem in this country.

Dutton flagged his intention to make immigration an election issue last year. This column warned during the Voice referendum where and how it was likely to go.

Whenever Dutton has struck trouble, he has moved cleverly to change the story. After losing the Aston byelection, he hastily arranged a party meeting to declare opposition to the Voice.

After failing to win the Dunkley byelection in March, the Coalition pledged to announce sites for nuclear reactors before the budget. When the CSIRO first declared nuclear was not viable for Australia, Dutton said the report was “discredited” and “not genuine”.

Initially, the CSIRO chief........

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