Peter Dutton’s children give rare insight into life with the Opposition Leader

On the cusp of a federal election, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s three children have given a rare insight into growing up with a dad in the political spotlight.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton may soon become the country’s next prime minister, but his three children have no ambition to follow in their dad’s footsteps.

Speaking to Nine’s 60 Minutes on Sunday, Mr Dutton’s three adult children – Rebecca, Tom and Harry – revealed while there are some negatives to having their dad in the limelight in Canberra, they’re “very proud” of him.

Peter Dutton’s three children, Rebecca, Tom and Harry, have grown up with their dad splitting his time between their Queensland home and Canberra. Picture: Supplied / 60 Minutes

Tom, 20, said having Mr Dutton as his dad was “good and bad”.

“I’m very proud of what he does,” Tom said.

“But also it comes with negatives, but you sort of, I learnt to block it out and move on.”

Mr Dutton’s wife, Kirilly, said their family had come up against many difficulties throughout her husband’s career, including seeing “physically hurtful” and “graphic” messages and images online.

She said there’ve been many “turning points” but the biggest one was when threats were made against their family.

“When my children are having to have security details at school and, and at sporting games because of threats that had been made,” Ms Dutton said.

Mr Dutton said it’s these kinds of adjustments his family has to deal with day in, day out, that affects him most.

“The worst part, the absolute worst part of this job is that your family, your wife, your children, your friends, your cousins with the same surname, are all sucked into that vortex, uh, that you’ve created,” he said.

“And they haven’t sought it. But, yeah, that’s, that’s the reality of it.”

Mr Dutton’s youngest son, Harry, said he’s now used to having a politician as a father.

“Well, as Tom said, we’ve sort of grown up with it, so, um, you get used to it, you sort of just block out the bad noise,” the 19-year-old said.

“We all do a pretty good job at banding together and not letting the bad get in.

“So, but I mean, there’s definitely more good than bad.”

Harry said there was so much more to his dad then meets the eye.

“I think for his campaign, he can’t appear as a teddy bear, (because) that won’t do him much good,” Harry said.

“But I want, I’d like everyone to know that he really is.”

The close knit family, which includes Mr Dutton’s eldest child, 22-year-old Rebecca – who was born from a previous relationship – have been more in the spotlight than ever before as the federal election looms.

The Dutton children say they have no interest in pursuing politics as a career. Picture: 60 Minutes

The Channel 9 program was given exclusive access into their lives, with Karl Stefanovic even joining the Dutton family on their Queensland farm.

Despite their pride in their father’s accomplishments, none of Mr Dutton’s children have any aspirations to join him in Canberra.

“Not a chance. We’ve definitely had our dose of politics,” Harry said.

“You get the same answer every time you ask any of us.”

Tom said he also had no desire to sign up for the campaign trail.

“When you grow up with it, you’ll learn to stay right away from it,” he said.

Despite her lack of interest in politics, Rebecca said she hoped Australians could see a different side to her father. 

“I really hope you can see him as another person if he does become prime minister,” she said.

Harry said his family have been able to find ways to find the funny side of things when comments about their dad turn negative, including when he was called “Mr Potato Head” online by critics.

“That was definitely one of the negatives that we quickly turned into a positive,” Harry said.

“We sort of started saying it to him ourselves, (because) he didn’t get enough of it day to day.

“He came home and had to deal with it as well.”

Mr Dutton’s wife, Kirilly – who he met through friends shortly before Rebecca was born – has been a strong support for her husband throughout the years.

Peter Dutton with his wife Kirilly. Picture: 60 Minutes

Mrs Dutton said it’s what people don’t see day to day that she hoped people would understand about the man hoping to become the next leader of Australia.

“(He’s) very relaxed, very gentle and, and empathetic,” Ms Dutton told 60 Minutes.

“He’s a great mate, he’s a good son, and he’s an excellent dad.”

The happy couple have built a life together both in the public eye and out of it since they met in 2001, after being set up on a date by friends at the Port Office Hotel in Brisbane.

Ms Dutton said the first time she laid eyes on her future husband was as he was approaching her “with a vodka Red Bull in hand”.

“It was a few years ago,” Mr Dutton replied.

But despite having drunk “20 vodka Red Bulls by that stage”, Mr Dutton said his wife has stuck by his side, becoming his biggest supporter over the years.

“(She’s) completely composed and, and nothing rattles her,” he said.

“And, and is, is just stoic and supportive. And, that’s always been a bedrock. And that’s never changed from day one.

“We didn’t meet as, you know, school sweethearts or anything like that.

“I got married young when I was about 23 and that marriage lasted about six months.

“Bec was born in 2002. Rebecca’s mother and I had been sort of on and off in a relationship, would be the polite way to describe it, but, you know, she’s been an amazing mother and, and I’d like to think that I’ve been an amazing father to Rebecca as well, in the way that Bec’s turned out.”

Ms Dutton said while she doesn’t like the word “step-mum”, she’s also just as proud of Rebecca.

“It was just done and from the day that she was born, she was part of our family,” she said.

“She’s our child. She’s the boys’ sister. I don’t think of our relationship in those terms.”

Originally published as Peter Dutton’s children give rare insight into life with the Opposition Leader