Northern Territory news: Peter Dutton slams Brent Potter for social media defence

While visiting Darwin for an International Women’s Day function, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton targeted a “weak” Police Minister Brent Potter amid a social media post scandal.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has lashed embattled Labor MLA Brent Potter for using his Australian Defence Force background as cover for a series of derogatory social media posts that targeted Jews, women, African-Americans and the Labor Party.

Mr Dutton branded Mr Potter’s defence that his worldview broadened after leaving the Australian Defence Force a “cop out”.

Admitting he was a “dickhead” for his previous social media activity, Mr Potter said on Thursday the army required “a particular type of person”.

“It’s not an excuse, but I’ve gone from an organisation that requires a particular type of person, with particular stresses, (and) gave a very narrow view of the world,” Mr Potter told media.

In Darwin for an International Women’s Day function at Wharf One on Darwin Waterfront on Friday, Mr Dutton said he was having none of it.

Opposition leaders Lia Finocchiaro and Peter Dutton with Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

“I think it’s a cop out,” Mr Dutton said.

“It’s a sign of incredibly weak leadership when you need to blame others for your own actions.

“Adults make decisions and they stand by the consequences and I think its obvious here when you look at the facts and you’re objective … what the honourable decision is, and see whether he’s capable of making that.”

Flanked by Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro and Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Mr Dutton reaffirmed his invitation to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet in Alice Springs to discuss issues impacting Central Australia.

He took aim at a Territory Government measure to legislate that the Children’s Commissioner must be indigenous.

“I want better outcomes for Indigenous Australians and I want practical outcomes for them and that means appointing the right position, merit based to make the right decisions that ultimately will help stop the violence, stop the sexual abuse,” he said.

Senator Price said the Territory Labor was “segregating” Aboriginal issues.

“Instead of segregating out community further and treating Indigenous children differently, we should be maintaining the same standards for all Australian children in this country.

“I don’t necessarily believe a specified Indigenous children’s commissioner is going to lead to better outcomes. It’s investing in our bureaucracy and not investing in our communities,” she said.

Ms Finocchiaro and the CLP opposed the move.

Mr Dutton was scathing of federal Labor’s failure to employ 500 frontline domestic violence workers Mr Albanese promised to deliver nationally before the 2022 election.

“It think it’s a debacle. At the time when the government’s talking a big game, this is another (broken promise).

“I think the minister updated the figure this morning to 17 out of 500 at a cost of literally hundreds of millions of dollars. I don’t think the government gets the basics right.”