FOI reveals contents of Peter Dutton’s ‘confidential’ folders on Labor foes

When Peter Dutton bounded into Parliament with folders labelled “Tony Burke” and “Chris Bowen”, it was seen as a warning shot.

Peter Dutton carted the folders with him to the dispatch box while answering questions but refused to table them, claiming they contained confidential material. Picture: AAP

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton bounded into parliament with two bulky folders he claimed were full of classified information on his Labor foes. Under immense pressure over his role in the European au pair visa affair, Mr Dutton brandished a pair of large folders labelled “Tony Burke” and “Chris Bowen” during Question Time in early September.

The folders were widely seen as a warning shot; the implication being Mr Dutton was prepared to dish dirt on visa decisions both men made as immigration ministers in the former Labor government.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton carried the folders into Question Time with him in early September. Picture Kym Smith

The folders were widely seen as a warning shot. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Dutton carted the folders with him to the dispatch box while answering questions but refused to table them, claiming they contained confidential material.

A freedom of information request lodged by transparency website Right to Know has confirmed the folders did not contain any information from Mr Dutton’s department.

“The department did not provide any documents to the Minister for Home Affairs for the specific purposes of inclusion in two folders, one marked “Tony Burke” and the other marked “Chris Bowen”,” Home Affairs said in its response.

— AAP