Peter Dutton officially launches Liberal leadership campaign, reveals skin condition is alopecia

Peter Dutton has confirmed he was diagnosed with alopecia a few years ago, after his appearance was likened to ‘Voldemort’ by Tanya Plibersek.

Peter Dutton has revealed the mystery skin condition that made him lose his hair after revealing he “wasn’t bald by choice”.

The incoming Liberal leader revealed he had been diagnosed with a skin condition “a few years ago” on Thursday but his office then spent 24 hours refusing to respond to phone calls or texts about what the problem was.

But Mr Dutton couldn’t dodge the question on Channel 9’s Today Show on Friday, when Karl Stefanovic asked him what he was talking about.

“Can you reveal any information about that condition you mentioned yesterday if it’s not too personal?,” Stefanovic asked.

“It must be a slow news day, I said yesterday I have dodgy genes I’m not bald by choice, but a couple of years ago I got diagnosed through a regular skin check-up, I recommend everybody (gets one) if you haven’t had any, book in with a skin clinic and dermatologist … we know that skin cancers are a big issue,’’ Mr Dutton said.

”He diagnosed a form of alopecia where the skin follicles die off effectively … it’s not painful or anything, just there in the background, once your hair follicles die off they don’t grow back.”

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Incoming Liberal leader Peter Dutton has confirmed he has a form of alopecia. Picture: Jason Edwards

Alopecia is a condition that causes people to lose hair from a single area or from multiple areas of their head, face or body. The most common types are: male pattern baldness. female pattern baldness.

Mr Dutton first raised the issue on 2GB radio host Ray Hadley’s show on Thursday, revealing “as you know I have a skin condition”, however Mr Hadley later confirmed he didn’t know what he was talking about.

In the interview, Mr Dutton said he’s “not bald by choice”, predicting while he’s “not pretty” that he would be “pretty effective” as Liberal leader.

He was responding to Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek’s claim that he looks like Harry Potter villain Voldermort. Mr Dutton confirmed she had apologised and he had accepted it.

“Look, it’s water off a duck’s back,’’ he told Hadley.

“You read all that sort of stuff online … in the sewer of Twitter all the time, and I think it’s unfortunate.

“But, you know, she’s apologised for that. I just don’t think you need to be nasty and mean.”

Mr Dutton then joked he had “a head that’s made for radio.”

“I’m not bald by choice. Okay. And, you know, I was diagnosed with a skin condition a couple of years ago, which is just a reality of getting older as well.

“So, you know, I’m not the prettiest bloke on the block, but I’m going to be pretty effective. And I love this country. We live in the best country in the world.”

Former Defence Minister Peter Dutton with wife Kirilly, daughter Rebecca 20 and sons Tom 16 and Harry 17 (far R), near the Federal Government offices in Brisbane. Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Mr Dutton officially launched his leadership tilt on Thursday, promising to fight for families and the “forgotten people” of Australia’s suburbs.

Pledging to show a new side of his personality after holding tough portfolios, Mr Dutton has confirmed for the first time that he will stand for the Liberal leadership to rebuild the party.

The former defence minister, who challenged Malcolm Turnbull for the leadership in 2018 before losing out to Scott Morrison, is not only the frontrunner for the job he is expected to be the only candidate.

Mr Dutton said he would work towards unifying his colleagues in the wake of the historic defeat.

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

“We believe in families – whatever their composition. Things are going to be tough under Labor: higher interest rates, cost of living, inflation and electricity prices. Labor talked a big game on the economy.

“They now have to deliver, and we will hold them to account.”

Mr Dutton, 51, is a father of three. He has been married for nearly twenty years to his wife Kirilly with whom he shares two sons Harry and Tom.

He was briefly married in his twenties when he was a police officer before divorcing and also had a daughter, Rebecca who was born in 2002 from a previous relationship, the year before he married Kirilly in July, 2003.

Daughter Rebecca, 20, grew up in a shared care arrangement with her mother and Mr Dutton and Kirilly.

Dutton is set to become the leader of the Liberal party in opposition. Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Despite his conservative roots he also pushed internally for the fight over gay marriage to be resolved one way or another, arguing it was hurting the government.

“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.

“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.”

“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.’’

Peter Dutton arrives at his election party in Brendale alongside wife Kirilly. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mrs Dutton said her husband was protective of women and was not well understood by some of his critics.

“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 his political heroes were John Howard and Peter Costello and praised their political legacy.

“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.

“Small and micro businesses. For aspirational, hardworking ‘forgotten people’ across cities, suburbs, regions and in the bush.”

Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese greeted by Tanya Plibersek after his speech at the National Press Club. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Dutton has previously held the portfolios of immigration, home affairs and defence.

“I’ve had 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,’” he said.

“I come from the suburbs and I have never changed my values or forgotten where I come from.”

But Mr Dutton continues to come in for scorching criticism from Labor premiers Mark McGowan in WA and Victorian Premier Dan Andrews.

Labor MP Tanya Plibersek has launched an extraordinary personal attack on Liberal MP Peter Dutton, comparing him to Voldemort, Harry Potter’s arch-enemy.

‘Well I think there will be a lot of children who have watched a lot of Harry Potter films who will be very frightened of what they will see at night, that’s for sure,’’ she said.

4BC Radio host Scott Emerson then asked Ms Plibersek what she was suggesting

“What, are you saying he looks strange, he looks odd?” he said.

“I am saying he looks a bit like Voldemort and we will see whether he can do what he promised he would do when he was last running for leader, which is smile more,” she said.

“I am just saying he is not the warm and friendly face of the Liberal party,’ she replied.

Ms Plibersek apologised on Wednesday for her remarks and said she shouldn’t have reflected on his appearance.