All roads lead to Rome as Albanese and Dutton stress-test their pre-election pitches | Karen Middleton

The policy discourse has shrivelled to its political core, where every soundbite becomes both an attack and a defence - and it's just the beginning

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Policy debate between the prime minister and opposition leader has become a version of all roads lead to Rome".

There's a political dimension to every policy proposal, but the public discourse on ideas for change has shrivelled to its political core over the past week or so.

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