Peter Dutton’s 18-year-old son Tom pictured holding bag with ‘white powder’

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has given a one-sentence response after a picture of his 18-year-old son began circulating online.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has responded after his son has found himself in a media storm when a photograph surfaced of him holding a clear bag containing a small amount of ‘white powder’.

News.com.au is not suggesting that the substance is drugs.

The image of 18-year-old Tom Dutton, reportedly taken at a Surfer’s Paradise apartment on the Gold Coast, was posted to Snapchat with the caption “birthday day treat”.

In the photo, Tom Dutton, dressed in a plain white T-shirt, faces the camera while holding the bag in his right hand.

Peter Dutton with his wife and three children.

Peter Dutton’s son Tom Dutton was photographed with a bag of white powder. Supplied

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Dutton’s office issued a brief statement after the Daily Telegraph broke the story.

“This is a private matter for the Dutton family,” the statement read.

The photograph initially appeared on a friend of Tom Dutton’s Snapchat account and was deleted shortly after being posted.

However, it had already been screenshot by one of the recipients, who then circulated the image further.

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

Mr Dutton told the ABC that being a police officer before entering politics had influenced his parenting style, admitting that he was stricter than most.

“Even in the way that you bring up your children... You know, not letting them out of your sight because you’ve seen some horrific cases where kids have been abducted or assaulted,” he told the broadcaster.

He added that he would not let his children use public toilets when they were out.

Mr Dutton has also taken a hard stance against the ACT’s new drug laws, condemning them as dangerously permissive.

“The ACT government is rolling out the red carpet for drug use and more crime,” he declared in September.

“It is effectively welcoming more ice, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, and speed onto our streets.

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