A bus carrying the travelling media contingent beached itself on a concrete bike-lane divider as it was pulling away from the hotel in Sydney's city centre on Monday morning.
About 40 journalists, camera operators and media advisers spilled onto Pitt St as the driver attempted to dislodge the vehicle, delaying the press pack by about 40 minutes.
With the help of a jack and some handy pieces of plywood gathered by one resourceful cameraman, the bus was eventually back on track and headed to the airport.
Mr Dutton was spared the drama as he travels in a separate car.Â
But it's not the start the Liberal campaign would've wanted to its jam-packed final week.
Trailing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the polls, Mr Dutton has embarked on a last-ditch blitz to visit 28 electorates before polls close on May 3.
The opposition leader pressed his case for election in the final leaders' debate on Sunday night, spruiking his party's pledge to increase defence spending and attacking the government on the cost of living.
In a point of distinction with Mr Albanese, Mr Dutton said he believed Australians thought Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremonies were overdone.
He has also upped his campaign focus on stamping out violence against women, on Monday pledging $20 million for a domestic violence trauma centre in the bellwether seat of Robertson on the NSW Central Coast.
Millions of Australians have already voted, casting doubt over the extent to which any last-ditch efforts will impact the election outcome.
The odds are generally tipping in Mr Albanese's favour, with a Newspoll published on Monday showing Labor leading the coalition 52 per cent to 48 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.
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