Former hardman Dutton hopes to reveal ‘rest of my character’ as Liberal leader

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese have revealed what they think of one another, as the incoming Liberal leader spruiked his work ethic and suburban values.

Incoming Liberal leader Peter Dutton has promised to “work constructively” with Anthony Albanese even though he say he disagrees with “many of his policies”.

After confirming he would nominate to become the next opposition leader, the Dickson MP and former defence minister was asked about his relationship with the newly-elected Labor Prime Minister.

Speaking to Sydney’s 2GB radio, Mr Dutton said he had developed a good relationship with Mr Albanese over his two decades spent in Parliament.

“I think he would say that we’ve got a respect for each other. And I don’t agree with many of his policies,” Mr Dutton said.

“If I’m fortunate enough to be elected the leader of the Liberal Party, then we’ll work constructively with them. Because ultimately, we need to have as the first principle to do the right thing by our country.”

However, Mr Dutton said he would call Mr Albanese out “where I think he’s got things wrong”.

Former Defence Minister Peter Dutton with wife Kirilly, daughter Rebecca, and sons Tom and Harry, near the Federal Government offices in Brisbane. Dutton is set to become the leader of the Liberal party in opposition. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Albanese told Sky News: “I must say I have a much better relationship with Peter Dutton than I have with Scott Morrison”.

Mr Albanese suggested that former prime minister Mr Morrison had breached his trust.

“Peter Dutton has never broken a confidence that I’ve had with him. I think it’s very important that the prime minister and the leader of the opposition (work together) whenever it’s possible,” he said.

“I want to lead a government that gets things done.”

Mr Dutton has set out to spruik his toughness, his work ethic and his suburban values.

Appearing with his family in a Brisbane park, the outgoing Defence Minister sought to soften his hardman image, saying he hoped the Australian public would now get a chance to see the “rest of my character’’.

And he described John Howard and Peter Costello as his “political mentors’’ in a statement which failed to mention the three immediate past prime ministers, Scott Morrison, Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott.

Mr Dutton’s leadership bid comes five days after the party was walloped at the May 21 poll, losing up to 19 seats.

The former policeman, who first won the marginal Brisbane seat of Dickson in 2001 and has held it for eight elections, is likely to be elected unopposed as Liberal leader when the party meets in Canberra in coming weeks.

Peter Dutton – with wife Kirilly, daughter Rebecca, and sons Harry (left) and Tom – has formally launched his bid for the Liberal Party leadership. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

A member of Queensland’s Liberal National Party, Mr Dutton is considered a conservative, and can be a polarising figure in some southern states.

His supporters say he is unafraid of a political fight, will hold the new Albanese Labor Government to account, and is a more nuanced character than his enemies claim.

“In a prime minister, you need someone who won’t buckle in hard times and will stand up for our country, and I have proven that in the portfolios I’ve had,’’ Mr Dutton said yesterday, as he made a rare public appearance with his wife Kirilly and children Rebecca, 20, Harry, 17, and Tom, 16.

“My work ethic is second to none and I have the skill and experience, having served five leaders, and have learnt from each,” he said.

“I have held portfolios in government and opposition, including defence, home affairs, health, finance, assistant treasurer, sport and employment.”

Mr Dutton said he had held “tough jobs – firstly as a policeman dealing with serious sexual assaults and murders, to Home Affairs Minister where I deported drug traffickers and child sex offenders – most people have only seen that side of me.’’

“I hope now, in moving from such tough portfolios, the Australian public can see the rest of my character.

“The side my family, friends and colleagues see. The side my community sees where they have elected me eight times.’’

Mrs Dutton, who is Mr Dutton’s second wife and mother of their two younger children, said “Peter is an amazing father and the kids adore him. He has a great sense of humour – very dry and witty but he also has an incredible compassion. Particularly when it comes to the protection of women and children,’’ she said.

“He hides a lot of his emotion from the public but he gets most upset at reports of children or women being sexually abused or harmed. It obviously stems from his time as a policeman working in that area, but it’s also from being the eldest of five kids growing up in the suburbs.’’

Mr Dutton said he had “come from the suburbs and I have never changed my values or forgotten where I have come from’’.

He also sought to appeal to a wide group of Liberals about the party’s future direction.

“We aren’t the Moderate Party. We aren’t the Conservative Party,’’ he said.

“We are Liberals. We are the Liberal Party. We believe in families – whatever their composition. Small and micro businesses. For aspirational hard working ‘forgotten people’ across the cities, suburbs, regions and in the bush.”

Mr Dutton also aligned himself to the Liberal elder statesmen John Howard and Peter Costello, who were a successful long-term double act during the 1990s and 2000s.

“I was raised by my political mentors John Howard and Peter Costello. I was a minister under John and Assistant Treasurer under Peter,’’ he said.

While Mr Dutton has an apparent rails run to the leadership role following the defeat of his main rival, outgoing Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, in Saturday’s election, the future deputy is less clear.

There is pressure for a woman to get the job, but it appears the deputy needs to come from the lower house, ruling out Senators Jane Hume, Michaelia Cash and Anne Ruston.

Former environment Minister Sussan Ley is a possibility, after Queensland-based former Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews ruled herself out for “geographical’’ reasons.

Originally published as Former hardman Dutton hopes to reveal ‘rest of my character’ as Liberal leader