Ministers respond after photo emerges of Peter Dutton’s son holding a bag with ‘white powder’

Several ministers have weighed in on images of Peter Dutton’s 18-year-old son holding a bag containing a ‘white powder’.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has defended Peter Dutton’s son after a leaked social media photo pictured him holding a bag of ‘white powder’.

Originally shared on the 18-year-old’s Snapchat before it was quickly deleted, the photo was captioned by Tom Dutton as a “birthday day treat” at a Surfer’s Paradise apartment on the Gold Coast.

Wearing a plain white T-shirt, Tom was facing the camera while holding a bag in his right hand.

The caption read: “Birthday day treat. Hello how u goin”.

Tom Dutton is seen in a snapchat image holding a bag with ‘white powder’. Supplied

This masthead is not suggesting the white substance is drugs.

The Opposition Leader’s office has also refused to comment on the matter, releasing a one-sentence statement that it is a “private matter for the Dutton family”.

Appearing on Today on Tuesday morning, Ms Plibersek was asked by host Karl Stefanovic what she made of the image, to which she expressed empathy for the families of public figures.

“I’ve got no comment at all. Peter Dutton’s a public figure, but his son’s not,” the Labor MP said.

Stefanovic continued to press her: “Can you imagine the embarrassment from the poor kid? I mean, already his dad is the Opposition Leader … he’s a former cop … and (Tom) ends up on the front page of the paper.

Tanya Plibersek has defended Peter Dutton’s son. Picture: NewsWire

“Kids have to suffer with high profile parents, don’t they?”

In response, Ms Plibersek, herself a mum of three and formerly served as the Opposition Deputy Leader, conceded it wasn’t “an easy life” for the children of politicians.

“There’s nothing more embarrassing than being out with your mum and being stopped at the shops for people wanting to have a chat,” she said.

“It’s not an easy life. We go into public life and we choose it. Our families don’t choose it, that’s for sure.”

Later appearing on the breakfast program, National Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie said she hadn’t spoken to Mr Dutton since the story broke on Monday night and said it was ”an issue for the Dutton family”.

Labor Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth also refrained from commenting, stating: “I think families are conscripts to politics”.

Peter Dutton hit out at soft drug laws introduced in Canberra last year, saying “the ACT government is rolling out the red carpet for drug use and more crime.” Picture: NewsWire

Mr Dutton has two sons, Tom, and Harry with wife Kirilly and a daughter, Rebecca, from a previous relationship.

Mr Dutton has been closing in on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in recent months, with the Coalition’s primary vote rising to 39 per cent in the most recent Newspoll.

Labor and the Coalition now have a 50-50 split on a two party preferred basis.

Mr Dutton was a Queensland Police officer for nine years where he worked stints in the drug squad.

He quit the force in 1999 to attend university and then set up a childcare business in 2000.

Originally published as Ministers respond after photo emerges of Peter Dutton’s son holding a bag with ‘white powder’