Labor candidate using disability as an excuse: Dutton

Peter Dutton acccuses ALP candidate, amputee Ali France, of using her disability “as an excuse’’ for not moving into the seat.

Labor's candidate for the federal seat of Dickson, Ali France. Picture: AAP

• Federal Election 2019 Full Coverage

Peter Dutton has targeted the Labor candidate in his marginal seat of Dickson, accusing amputee Ali France of using her disability “as an excuse’’ for not moving into the outer north Brisbane electorate.

In an extraordinary attack, Mr Dutton dismissed a statement Ms France gave to The Australian ­earlier in the day that she had been unable to find a wheelchair-­accessible home in the electorate ahead of the campaign.

Ms France, 45, a former journalist, had her left leg amputated after being struck by a car at a shopping centre in 2011. She later underwent multiple surgeries, prompting her to become a disability worker and advocate.

Asked about her failure to move into Dickson from her home in the neighbouring seat of Brisbane, Ms France issued a statement saying she already worked in Dickson and planned to buy a home in the electorate and make it ­accessible if she won.

“I have searched high and low for a wheelchair-accessible house in the electorate but anyone who has a disability like mine will know that it is almost impossible to find suitable homes with wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and kitchens, without stairs,’’ said Ms France, the daughter of former state Labor MP.

“If I am fortunate enough to represent the people of Dickson, I will have to buy a home and renovate it so that it is accessible.

“Unlike my opponent who has nine houses, one of which is in the electorate, I have just one house that has been built to accommodate my disability.”

Mr Dutton, who holds the sprawling mortgage-belt seat on a notional margin of 2 per cent, yesterday accused Ms France of changing her story.

“There are plenty of people with disability living in Dickson,’’ he told The Australian.

“A lot of people have raised this with me. I think they are quite angry that Ms France is using her disability as an excuse for not moving into our electorate.

“Ali has been telling people that even if she won the election she won’t move into our electorate. She has now changed that position but I don’t think it is credible.

“If you are serious about representing an area, you live in that area and using her disability as an excuse for not living in our area is really making residents angry.’’

Ms France did not respond to Mr Dutton’s comments.

Residency in the electorate was an issue when Mr Dutton won the seat from Cheryl Kernot in 2001.

The Home Affairs Minister, who contested the Liberal leadership last year, has survived five tight contests as neighbouring seats seesawed between the major parties.

Activist group GetUp has set up an office in Dickson to help unseat him and Queensland’s biggest left-wing union, United Voice, is aiding Ms France’s campaign.

Mr Dutton said he accepted he was a “polarising figure’’.

“It’s worth it because I think I have been able to make our community and our country a safer place. I think the vast majority of people in our electorate support the tough stance we have taken on border protection.’’