Peter Dutton found himself in hot water after making ambiguous comments regarding the Coalition's stance on a 2030 emissions reduction target. Initially reported as a shift in policy, Dutton's remarks were actually a mistake made during an interview with the Australian newspaper. Rather than immediately clarifying the situation, Dutton chose to remain silent for three days before addressing the issue head-on. This decision was likely made to avoid admitting the error and to come back with a strong response. Text messages circulating among Coalition MPs reflected confusion over whether a party room meeting had been missed due to the unexpected change in position. Ultimately, Dutton's misstep on climate policy led to a period of silence followed by a forceful reiteration of the government's stance.

The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, has clarified that his aide's comment referring to the Rwanda policy as "crap" was made for dramatic effect. Cleverly stated that despite the choice of words, the aide is actually supportive of the policy.