The opposition leader pulled up to a busy petrol station in the northwest Melbourne electorate of Gorton in a truck emblazoned with the local Liberal candidate's face, as part of a days-long bid to bring attention to the coalition's plan to cut the fuel excise.
Andrew Faulkner, who was fuelling up on the other side of Mr Dutton's pump, took the opportunity to ask about issues he was experiencing as the step-parent of a child on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The opposition leader claimed there was "a lot of waste" in the NDIS and asked for the man's details, saying he would follow up on the issue.
Mr Faulkner believed Australians should not be forced to vote, but said Mr Dutton surprised him.
"He was very forthcoming and probably would get my vote," he told reporters.
Another Australian on their way to the nearby McDonald's drive-through said, "I hope he wins".
Meanwhile, Mr Dutton forged ahead to the servo, cuddling a cavoodle named Ruby on the way before chatting to a young apprentice.
Though the fuel station encounters were largely positive, Mr Dutton and the coalition have bled support in recent week.
As a result, the coalition has tried to redirect attention to its announced housing policy, which it hopes will tap into the concerns of families and young Australians.
The plan would allow first-time buyers of newly built homes to deduct interest payments from their income taxes on the first $650,000 of a mortgage.
Mr Dutton brought his 20-year-old Harry on the campaign trail for the second day in a row as they toured a newly built family home located on the outskirts of Melbourne to spruik the plan.
The younger Dutton on Monday said he was "saving like mad" to put down a deposit, but his father - who has maintained a multimillion-dollar property portfolio - dodged questions when asked if he would give his kids a leg up.
When pressed the following day, the opposition leader drew a common link between himself and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - who also has a son in his 20s.
"Our household's no different to many households where we want our kids to work hard to save and we'll help them with the deposit at some stage," Mr Dutton said.
"But in many families ... they haven't got that luxury.
"The prime minister and I might be able to help our kids, but it's not about us."
Mr Dutton's event was held in Maddingley, in the northwest Melbourne seat of Hawke.
While it is held by Labor on a 7.6 per cent margin, the coalition is hoping outer-suburban families - who have been acutely affected by the cost-of-living crisis - will swing in their direction at the May 3 election.
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