How much is it worth to be Opposition Leader: pollie perks revealed
Properties, salaries and the perks of being Australia’s Opposition leader. These are Peter Dutton’s gifts and holdings explained.
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A multimillion-dollar home, past lucrative property sales and investments, and a six-figure salary are among sources of wealth behind the man vying to become Australia’s next prime minister.
As Peter Dutton prepares to go head-to-head with Anthony Albanese in a high stakes election campaign, analysis of the Coalition leader’s andalso the Prime Minister’s income, investments and gift registers reveals an eclectic mix of revenue streams and other financial benefits.
Both have also enjoyed complimentary sporting events over the past three years, with Mr Dutton making multiple appearances at NRL, AFL and cricket hames, while also dabbling in the ballet and catching Luke Combs in concert.
Mr Dutton and Mr Albanese have likely crossed paths at each AFL and NRL grand final during of the last few years, and between them have been given a wide array of books and ornaments from constituents, businesses and dignatories.
PETER DUTTON
How much real estate does he own?
Currently Mr Dutton owns only a single property, a farm in Dayboro north of Brisbane, which he bought for $2.165m in 2020.
At the start of this term of parliament Mr Dutton had declared this residential farm, as well as a residential investment property in Brisbane’s CBD, which was sold for $3.47m in December 2022.
In August 2022, Mr Dutton notified a Townsville commercial property held by his family trust had been sold for $840,000.
In the years prior to becoming opposition leader, Mr Dutton and his wife Kirilly in 2020 sold their family home in Camp Mountain for $1.8m, and in 2019 sold a Canberra apartment for $540,000.
Mr Dutton first declared the existence of the RHT Family Trust — named for his children Rebecca, Harry and Tom — in 2014.
By 2022 only his wife was listed as a director of RHT Investments, which acts for the trust.
In February this year Mr Dutton said the only physical assets he and Kirilly owned was their Dayboro property.
“We have our house, which has been declared, our private residence, we have money in the bank and that’s it,” he said. “There are no assets held in any trust.”
What is the salary of Australia’s Opposition leader?
Parliamentarian’s salaries are set by the independent Remuneration Tribunal, which in June 2024 handed all federal politicians a 3.5 per cent pay rise, bringing Mr Dutton’s annual salary to $432,280.
What is his net worth?
Mr Dutton’s net worth is not publicly available, and it is not a requirement of politicians to declare this information.
What did Peter Dutton do before becoming Opposition leader?
Mr Dutton joined the Queensland Police Service at the age of 18, serving for nine years.
He was elected as the member for Dickson in 2001, and in 2004 was made Workforce Participation Minister and then Assistant Treasurer in the Howard government.
During the Abbott Government he was Health and Sport Minister, before becoming Immigration and Border protection Minister in 2018, which evolved into the Home Affairs portfolio.
Mr Dutton was Defence Minister in the Morrison Government, and was elected leader of the Liberal Party in 2022.
What gifts did he receive this term?
Parliamentarians are required to declare any gifts received that are valued at more than $750 if it is from an official, such as a foreign government or dignatory, or $300 and above if it is from non official sources.
As Mr Dutton is opposition leader he does not regularly receive official gifts, but he has declared a number of tickets, books, art and other items from non official sources since May 2022.
OFFICIAL GIFTS
– Ceramic vase from Prime Minister of Vietnam
SPORT
– Tickets to State of Origin game two 2922 from NRL
– Tickets to NRL grand final 2022 from NRL
– Tickets to AFL grand final 2022 from AFL
– Tickets to Australia v South Africa third test match from Cricket Australia
– Tickets to Sydney 7s Rugby from Rugby Australia
– Tickets to Australian Open 2023 from Channel 9
– Tickets to NRL Titans v Dolphins NRL match from Moreton Bay Regional Council
– Tickets to Women’s State of Origin 2023 game one from NRL and ARLC
– Tickets to NRL Broncos v Dolphins from Brisbane Broncos
– Tickets to Australia v England fifth Ashes Test from Cricket Australia
– Tickets to Australia v Denmark Women’s World Cup from FIFA
– Tickets to Australia v Sweden World Cup match from FIFA
– Tickets to AFL Lions v Carlton preliminary final from AFL
– Tickets to NRL Broncos v Warriors preliminary final from Brisbane Broncos
– Tickets to NRL grand final 2023 from NRL
– Tickets to Australia v Pakistan second test match from Cricket Australia
– Tickets to Australia v Pakistan third test match from Cricket Australia
– Tickets to NRL Broncos v Sharks from Brisbane Broncos
– Tickets to AFL Lions v Swans from Brisbane Lions
– Tickets to AFL Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne from Western Bulldogs
– Tickets to AFL grand final 2024 from AFL
– Tickets to NRL grand final 2024 from NRL
– Tickets to Bathurst 1000 from V8 Supercars
– Tickets to Australia v India Sydney test match from Cricket Australia
MUSIC
– Tickets to Luke Combs concert from ASM Global
– Tickets to Swan Lake ballet from ballet Australia
– Tickets to Strictly Gershwin from Queensland ballet
BOOKS AND ART
– Madhabuni painting from Nitkin Gadkarji, Minister for Road Transport and Highways
– Books and pictures from Akshardham Temple
– Book ‘Made in India’ from Amitabh Kant
– Theorama from Hinduja Group
TRAVEL
– Flight Perth to Pilbara return courtesy of Hancock Prospecting
– Flight Rockhampton to Sydney to attend Bali Bombing memorial and return Sydney to Mackay courtesy of Hancock Prospecting
– Travel and accommodation to attend the opening of Scale Facilitation and Recharge Industries in New York as a guest of Scale Facilitation
– Flight from Perth to Ginbata, Roy Hill return from Warburton Group
– Flight upgrade Brisbane to Sydney from Qantas
– Travel and hospitality Warren Vale from Stanbroke
– Travel and accommodation to Wellington, New Zealand for the IDU Forum 2024 from the Liberal Party
– Travel and accommodation to US for Australian American Leadership Dialogue 2024 from Liberal Party
– Travel and accommodation to Israel from Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council
– Travel Sydney to Bathurst return from Liberal Party
OTHER
– Tickets to 2022 Midwinter Ball in Canberra
– Tickets to 2023 Midwinter Ball in Canberra
– Mount Blanc pen from India Australia Strategic Alliance
– Academic stole and ornamental peacock from OP Jindal Global University
– Ornamental sceptre from Ajit Doval
– Ornamental peacock from Councillor Livingston Chettipally
– Chinese tea gift sets from Ferris Jin and Jamie Mao Juemin
– Whipper Snapper Distillery Upshot Whiskey from Kevin Withers
– Ongoing legal assistance from Arnold Block Leibler re: legal matters
What organisation memberships does he have?
– Qantas Chairman’s Lounge
– Virgin Club membership
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