What we know about Dutton’s trip to a Sydney fundraiser as Alfred approached

Almost a week ago, as tropical cyclone Alfred was approaching the east coast and Queenslanders began sandbagging their homes, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton arrived in Sydney and attended a fundraiser at a billionaire’s waterside mansion.

Questions about when he flew in and out of his home state, and whether he misled Australians about his whereabouts as a potential disaster loomed, have dogged Dutton since. This is what we know about the timeline of events.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he was back in Brisbane on Wednesday morning after an event on Tuesday night.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Tuesday morning: Dutton gives a press conference at emergency centre

Dutton started Tuesday with an 8.15am press conference at Queensland’s emergency management centre in Kedron, where he said he had just received a briefing from Premier David Crisafulli and Queensland Police. Dutton’s electorate of Dickson, on the north-western fringe of Brisbane, was expected to be in the path of the cyclone for Alfred’s then-forecast arrival on Thursday evening or the early hours of Friday. He warned people not to be complacent about the Bureau of Meteorology’s predictions.

“We need to make sure that we listen to the advice, that people prepare, and now is the time to listen to the authorities ... about actions that you need to take in terms of preparation in your own yard, around your own business premises, in relation to supplies that you need to provide for you and your family,” he said. “This is a very serious event – and people need to heed the words and the advice of the premier very carefully and act accordingly.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who also attended a briefing in Kedron that morning, said Dutton wasn’t in his meeting. “I went to that briefing on Tuesday at Kedron and he was leaving as I was arriving,” Chalmers told radio station 4BC.

Tuesday lunch: Dutton flies to Sydney and meets property developer

Dutton then flew to Sydney. He attended a lunch organised by property developer Fouad Deiri, held at the home of a Greek Orthodox bishop in Sydney’s south, according to reports in The Australian Financial Review. A spokesman for Dutton told this masthead that it “was not a fundraising event, it was a luncheon meeting with Antiochian Archdiocese Church representatives and no other political donors were present”.

But a separate report on news.com.au on Monday revealed that Deiri had previously contacted Dutton’s office about making a political donation. A spokesman for Deiri, however, said no donation had been made. “While a potential donation was discussed in February, it was in no way linked to the meeting with his eminence on March 5,” he told news.com.au.

Tuesday night: Dutton attends Hemmes fundraiser at Vaucluse mansion

Later that night, Dutton attended a Liberal Party fundraising event at the eastern Sydney mansion of billionaire pub and club boss Justin Hemmes, who runs hospitality group Merivale.

The Australian Financial Review reported that Dutton was the star guest at a small gathering held at Hemmes’ $100 million waterfront property in Vaucluse.

The AFR wrote that Hemmes’ wealthy friends and associates attended, but there is no public knowledge of the guest list or how much money was raised.

Justin Hemmes’ $100 million family home in Sydney’s Vaucluse – The Hermitage.Credit: John Hemmes

Wednesday morning: Dutton discusses cyclone preparations on radio

By 8.40am on Wednesday, Dutton was speaking to Brisbane radio host Peter Fegan on station 4BC, again about cyclone preparations. Dutton acknowledged people were under pressure – desperate to get sandbags or raise their belongings to higher ground – and said it was good that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was also in town.

The opposition leader did not indicate he had been outside the state over the previous 24 hours, as he encouraged people to use any spare time to check on their neighbours. “I think it’s also an opportunity ... to just check on the elderly neighbour or somebody who’s across the street that you know just doesn’t have the support network around them,” he said. “I think it’s a good opportunity – if you’ve got time – to knock on their door and see if there’s anything that you can do to help.”

Much was made of Dutton’s efforts to prepare for the cyclone. Fegan asked if Dutton was sticking around Queensland. “Sandbagging and everything is all well and truly under way in Dickson?” he asked. “Well and truly,” Dutton said.

Fegan also asked if Dutton had taped his own windows. “I haven’t been that organised, but it’s something we should consider, actually,” Dutton said. He also said he would be helping his elderly aunt sandbag later that day.

It was in this interview that Dutton said Albanese should not call an election that weekend. “The prime minister would have a tin ear to do that,” Dutton said. “I think people probably want ... their prime minister governing, not campaigning, at a time like this.”

Dutton did not specify his whereabouts during the call – whereas the next day’s interview with 2GB was made from his farm, 30 kilometres from Brisbane – but days later he said he made the call from Brisbane, having caught the first flight out of Sydney that morning.

Aftermath: Dutton seeks to clear the record

The revelation about Hemmes’ fundraiser has raised questions about Dutton’s judgment as a cyclone approached his home town. Liberal Party events for later that week were cancelled.

Dutton was back on 4BC on Monday morning to clarify his version of events. “I had a briefing at Kedron, as you know, on Tuesday morning, and I spoke with the premier, met with the officials, received the briefing there, as I say. I stuck to my diary, which was going to Sydney that morning. I had meetings down there, a lunch with one of the archbishops in Sydney, I had meetings in the afternoon. I had a fundraising event – not a party – a fundraising event that night and I caught the first flight home on Wednesday. I was back in Brisbane when I spoke to you,” he said.

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