Who’s Who in 2022, Government Gurus: Peter Dutton

Dickson Federal MP and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton became the first Liberal leader from Queensland in 2022 after his party lost the Federal election in May.

He was elected as Opposition leader unopposed and vowed to treat the coming years as an extended campaign.

Speaking on Channel 7’s Sunrise program shortly after the election, he said he wanted to ensure the Liberal party had policies to help small businesses and keep the country secure

“The Opposition Leader’s job is the worst in politics, they say; but for me, it’s a three-year campaign because I think we live in the best country in the world, and I think it’s worth defending.

“I want to make sure that we’ve got the policies which can help small businesses, I think families are under enormous pressure at the moment, electricity prices are going up, fuel prices are obviously going up and I want to make sure that we’ve got the policies that can keep our country secure, but also to make sure that we can help those families and help grow Australian jobs, bring manufacturing back to our country as well.”

The Dayboro resident improved on his results at this year’s election, gaining 54.64 percent of the two-candidate preferred vote over the ALP’s Ali King, compared with 51.69 in 2019.

In the lead-up to the election, Mr Dutton cited his major achievements locally as delivering federal funding for important road and transport upgrades in his electorate.

“We are upgrading the Bruce Highway, building the missing on and off ramps at Dohles Rocks Rd in Murrumba Downs, duplicating Linkfield Rd overpass, constructing a new park ’n’ ride at Ferny Grove train station for commuters and flood-proofing Youngs Crossing,” he said.

Mr Dutton welcomed progress on the project and said the then-Federal Government had committed more than $30 million towards the upgrade.

“Thanks to our funding commitment, council has already been able to get started on early works and bring about a solution that’ll provide resilience for a one in 100-year flood event,” he said in January.

“It only takes a few severe storms like the ones we’ve seen just this summer to put Youngs Crossing out of action, forcing drivers to take a much longer detour and putting pressure on other roads like the Bruce Highway and Old Gympie Rd.”

About Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton has represented the electorate of Dickson for the past 21 years, having been elected at the age of 30.

During that time, he has held multiple ministerial portfolios and served under four prime ministers – John Howard, Tony Abbot, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison.

His portfolios have included serving as the Minister for Defence; Home Affairs; Immigration and Border Protection; Health; Sport; Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing; Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation; Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Workforce Participation.

Mr Dutton was also a member of the National Security Committee of Cabinet for six years.

His entry into the workforce came in the form of working after school in a butcher shop, morning lawns and delivering newspapers.

Prior to entering politics Mr Dutton was a police officer, working in the National Crime Authority and Drug and Sex Offenders’ Squads, with a focus on protecting women and children.

Mr Dutton and wife Kirilly have three children - Rebecca, Harry and Tom.