Opposition Leader Peter Dutton became the second high-profile Australian politician this week to admit that Married At First Sight was a fixture in his home after joking about the controversial show during his Federal Budget reply on Thursday night.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton quipped that his family would rather watch Nine’s controversial reality TV hit Married At First Sight than his budget reply speech.

On Thursday evening, Mr Dutton said his wife Kirilly and their three children would have opted to watch the top-rating dating show instead of his reply to the Labor government’s budget for 2025-26, were it on-air.

“I want to shout out to my wife tonight, who has just had surgery on her wrist and is at home watching with Rebecca, Harry and Tom unless MAFS clashes with this broadcast,” Mr Dutton said, to laughter from his Liberal colleagues.

However, he inadvertently revealed he is not a fan of MAFS, as the show only airs from Sunday through Wednesday.

It comes after Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the budget on Tuesday and unveiled Labor’s new tax cuts and a deficit of $42.1 billion for 2025-26, along with a forecast that gross debt will exceed $1 trillion.

The Opposition Leader vowed to repeal the tax cuts sold as the centerpiece of the government’s cost-of-living relief plan, as they would only save millions of Australians $5 per week.

“Labor will spend $17 billion of taxpayers’ money to give you back 70 cents a day – in 15 months’ time. And yet, a family with a typical mortgage is $50,000 worse off under Labor. Frankly, it’s insulting,” he said.

“We oppose these tax cuts and will repeal them – because they come at a great cost to the economy with little cost relief for Australians. Instead, we will provide immediate cost-of-living relief for Australians.

The Opposition Leader said if the Coalition is elected, “four critical pieces of legislation” will be introduced to parliament on the first sitting day after voters head to the polls.

The planned legislation includes the Energy Price Reduction Bill, the Lower Immigration and More Homes for Australians Bill, the Keeping Australians Safe Bill and the Guaranteed Funding for Health, Education and Essential Services Bill.

It comes after Mr Albanese commented on MAFS on Tuesday, saying his family is “obsessed” with the show.

“I don’t have a lot of time (to watch TV), I’ve got to say. We’ve been busy putting together a budget,” he told The Fox’s Fifi, Fev, and Nick.

Mr Albanese said had an “enormous amount in common” with his fiancée Jodie Haydon, including a shared taste for Australia’s most popular TV show.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has quipped about his family watching Married At First Sight during his budget reply speech. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
“Although she’s obsessed with Married At First Sight. I’m not quite as obsessed,” he said.

The Labor leader took to Instagram earlier this month to post a selfie with fan favourite MAFS couple Jeff and Rhi.

The candid photo showed the Prime Minister grinning from ear to ear as Jeff placed a hand on his shoulder between Rhi.

“I’m pro marriage – hope to have one this year! Bumped into @mafs stars Jeff and Rhi in Perth,” he wrote in the caption, which was a tongue-in-cheek reference to his forthcoming wedding to Ms Haydon.

Australians lashed out at his decision to post the photo with the reality stars in the wake of an ongoing NSW police investigation into MAFS following one groom’s controversial violent act where he punched a wall.

“Nice to see you support a show that is currently being investigated for violence against women…why won’t you address the femicide that is ongoing in our country????” one person said.

Other people speculated Mr Albanese was orchestrating a “PR stunt” to appeal to voters ahead of the 2025 Federal Election on May 3.

“Albanese is giving Karen Rudd a run for his money when it comes to cringeworthy PR stunts,” one person said.

“Chat with (media personality) Abbie Chatfield. Cricket with Raygun, and now a selfie with the MAFS couple. Call the Election!” another person said.