Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s choice of neckwear on the campaign trail has sparked a cost of living row three days out from the election.
The Coalition leader was questioned over his pricey fashion choice after he was spotted wearing a $600 tie from a luxury Italian menswear brand at a Melbourne charity on Wednesday, where he packed boxes for families in need.
Mr Dutton was conducting a press conference afterwards when a reporter noticed he was wearing a tie from designer label Zegna.
‘Mr Dutton, what’s on your tie?’ they called out as he wrapped up the press conference.
He didn’t respond to the question and walked away.
Mr Dutton was still wearing the tie when he sat down with Chinese community leaders and later when he dropped by patisserie in Bayswater.
But there was no sign of the flashy attire when he later filled up at a petrol station on the EastLink freeway.
The specific design of Mr Dutton’s tie isn’t currently listed on the Italian brand’s Australian website, but it is available on Zegna’s Thailand store.
Peter Dutton wore a $600 tie from designer label Zegna while packing charity boxes for families in need in Melbourne on Wednesday
The tie Mr Dutton wore at several events on the election trail on Wednesday is from designer label Zegna
Similar silk ties are on sale on the brand’s Australian website for around $605.
The Italian menswear label is said to be also a favourite of former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating.
Mr Dutton has repeatedly declared during the election campaign that he wants to stand up for working class Aussies.
He has also criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for failing to address the cost of living crisis.
However, Mr Dutton came under fire during the final leaders’ debate on Channel Seven on Sunday night when he caught out over the price of eggs.
The two leaders were asked about the cost of a dozen eggs.
The Opposition leader was still wearing the tie when he say down with local Liberal candidate Manny Cicchiello at a patisserie in Bayswater
Mr Dutton (pictured) was spotted without the tie later on Wednesday during a visit to a petrol station
The Opposition Leader grossly under-estimated the price, which was revealed to be $8.80 at Coles and $8.50 at Woolworths.
Mr Dutton guessed ‘about $4.20’ while the Prime Minister said they were $7.
Aussies were not impressed with Mr Dutton’s answer.
‘It was really shocking to see how out of touch someone can be with a carton of eggs,’ a member of the studio audience commented.
