Peter Dutton vows to show softer side as leader of the Liberals

Peter Dutton has vowed to make a big personal change after he announced we would stand for the Liberal Party leadership.

Peter Dutton has vowed to show Australians he has a softer side than his no-nonsense reputation suggests, as he formally announced he will stand for the Liberal leadership in the wake of Saturday’s wipe-out at the ballot box.

The former defence minister, who is set to be unopposed when the Party meets next week, issued a statement saying he will run on a platform to unify his colleagues and hold Labor to account amid the economic uncertainty of the next three years.

However, he was also keen to dispel the idea that he is just a “strong man” politician as he included in his statement a testament from his wife Kirilly, who described him as compassionate and witty.

Mr Dutton said there was a gentler side to his character, arguing that the public were only used to seeing him in “tough portfolios” like defence and home affairs.

“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.

Peter Dutton will very likely be the next Liberal leader. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“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,” he said in the statement.

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

Kirilly Dutton said her husband was an “amazing ­father and the kids adore him”.

The couple has two sons, Harry, 17, and Tom, 16, as well as Rebecca, 20, Mr Dutton’s daughter from a previous relationship.

“He has a great sense of humour – very dry and witty but he also has incredible compassion, particularly when it comes to the protection of women and children,” Ms Dutton 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.”

Peter Dutton with wife Kirilly, daughter Rebecca, and sons Tom and Harry live in Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

More broadly, Mr Dutton signalled he wanted to reclaim the identity of the Liberal Party and unite it.

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

Mr Dutton went on to warn of what he believes is to come under the Anthony Albanese Government, and what he plans to do as leader of the opposition.

“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.

“We will be a strong alternative at the next election with economic policies to help, not harm people. This will be in stark contrast to what we will get under Labor.”

Mr Dutton said Australians needed a prime minister who “won’t buckle in hard times and will stand up for our country, and I have proved that in the portfolios I’ve had”.

“My work ethic is second to none and I have the skill and experience, having served five leaders and having learnt from each,” he said.

Mr Dutton has vowed to unite the Liberals. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“I have held portfolios in government and in opposition, including defence, home affairs, health, fin­ance, assistant treasurer, sport and employment.

“I was raised by my political mentors John Howard and Peter Costello. I was a minister under John, assistant treasurer under Peter.”

Mr Dutton said the Liberals would be a “strong alternative at the next election with economic policies to help, not harm people”.

“This will be in stark contrast to what we will get under Labor,” he said.

The Liberals had expected that if they lost the election, Josh Frydenberg would become leader, but he was defeated by teal independent Monique Ryan.

Former home affairs minister Karen Andrews said on Wednesday Mr Dutton would be elected unopposed.

Liberal MP for NSW Sussan Ley is the frontrunner to be deputy, ahead of senators Jane Hume and Anne Ruston, while Angus Taylor and Stuart Robert are positioning for the treasury portfolio.

Originally published as Peter Dutton vows to show softer side as leader of the Liberals