Fadden by-election voters won’t be swayed by Robodebt report, says Peter Dutton

The Opposition Leader says the damning Robodebt report won’t influence Saturday’s by-election in Queensland.

Opposition LeaderPeter Dutton said it was no mistake the government timed the Fadden by-election to be a week after the Robodebt report’s findings came out. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE/Tertius Pickard

Peter Dutton says voters are “not stupid” enough to be swayed by the damning Robodebt report at Saturday’s by-election in former Morrison government minister Stuart Robert’s Gold Coast seat of Fadden.

Mr Robert’s resignation from parliament, less than a year after Anthony Albanese won the 2022 federal election, triggered a by-election in his safe Liberal National Party electorate.

On Friday, a royal commission report found bureaucrats and Coalition government ministers – including Mr Robert – showed “venality, incompetence and cowardice” in pursuing the Robodebt scheme.

Former Fadden MP Stuart Robert. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

At the LNP state convention at the weekend, the Opposition Leader said he was confident voters wouldn’t punish new LNP candidate Cameron Caldwell for the Robodebt issue, despite Labor’s attempts to “politicise” the findings.

“Around the Fadden by-election, it’s no mistake the government timed the by-election to be a week after the report’s findings came out,” Mr Dutton said.

“That’s a politicisation of the process. But I think the people of Fadden are much smarter than that. They’ve seen the personal smear against Cameron Caldwell, they’ve seen the political advantage in the timing of the release of this report … people aren’t stupid.

“People also know you don’t change the government when you go to a by-election but you can send a message to the Prime Minister.”

LNP candidate for Fadden Cameron Caldwell. Picture: Mike Batterham

Labor candidate for Fadden, Letitia Del Fabbro. Picture: Keith Woods.

The by-election date was set by Labor Speaker Milton Dick after taking advice from the Australian Electoral Commission, and was the earliest possible Saturday after school holidays. It is understood Mr Dutton was consulted about the date and did not raise concerns.

The LNP holds Fadden by more than 10 per cent and is expected to retain the seat.

Labor sources told The Australian that while the Robodebt issue had been mentioned at pre-polling stations, it didn’t appear to be a vote-shifter for ALP candidate Letitia Del Fabbro, a lecturer in nursing.