Peter Dutton's name has long been thrown around as future party leader and prime minister.

But the thought of the hard-line former Queensland police officer and conservative stalwart being a serious contender for the nation's top job was usually scoffed at by the left and some political commentators. They dismissed it as the wishful thinking of disgruntled backbenchers who were unhappy with the more moderate Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. It would never happen.