Wrong number: Yvette D’Ath’s text blunder to Peter Dutton over troops

Queensland’s Health Minister has been left red faced after slamming Peter Dutton, but it’s emerged she made a crucial error.

Queensland’s Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has been left red faced after slamming Peter Dutton over stranded ADF troops in Dubai.

During a fiery press conference on Wednesday, Ms D’Ath hit out at “false claims” the state had left Australian troops, deployed to assist in the Afghanistan rescue mission, waiting in the Middle East because of a delay in granting exemptions to hotel quarantine.

“Before the Commonwealth gets up and makes public statements, criticising the Queensland Government, which seems to be the modus operandi now … that’s all they do, go out and criticise Queensland – great deflection on anything else in the country … then make sure they’ve got the facts,” she said.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath shows a text message she sent to Defence Minister Peter Dutton, asking him to call her. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

She said claims attributed to ‘government sources’ criticising the state were “false”, and that she had tried to get on to Peter Dutton for an explanation – to no avail.

Mr Dutton tweeted: “Yvette D’Ath’s comment this morning that she called and or texted me is untrue. I have not had any contact from her”.

Ms D’Ath showed reporters the text to Mr Dutton, asking he call her back.

But it has since emerged Ms D’Ath was texting the wrong number, with one digit entered incorrectly.

Yvette D'ath’s comment this morning that she called and or texted me is untrue. I have not had any contact from her.

— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) September 8, 2021

Ms D’Ath’s office confirmed she had an incorrect phone number for Mr Dutton and he had not received her phone call or text prior to Wednesday’s press conference.

The pair have since spoken over the phone.

Ms D’Ath also acknowledged the error on Twitter. “Well, I can confirm I now have Peter Dutton’s correct number!” she wrote. “The number I was given had an incorrect digit.

“We’ve since spoken and he’s assured me the Commonwealth are comfortable with the approach being taken by Queensland and the ADF to ensure our diggers come home safely.”

Well, I can confirm I now have Peter Dutton’s correct number!
 
The number I was given had an incorrect digit.
 
We’ve since spoken and he’s assured me the Commonwealth are comfortable with the approach being taken by Queensland and the ADF to ensure our diggers come home safely.

— Yvette D'Ath MP (@YvetteDAth) September 8, 2021

The Courier-Mail reported that Diggers were stuck in Dubai and unable to return because the Queensland government had denied them entry while allowing NRL players and partners and Indian cricketers access.

Qld Health Minister @YvetteDAth shows off text to @PeterDutton_MPpic.twitter.com/32eHKfDZwZ

— Lydia Lynch (@LydiaLynch101) September 8, 2021

The report said that the Palaszczuk Government had not yet approved a special hotel quarantine exemption for them and quoted a ‘senior federal government source’ saying it “it’s pretty ordinary”.

Ms D’Ath said that a request was made for up to 400 army personnel wanting to come to Queensland from Afghanistan and quarantine in a bubble arrangement so they could move more freely. “They made that request last Friday,” she said.

“On Wednesday being today, they (ADF) would provide a Queensland management plan to Queensland Health, and hope to finalise that plan by tomorrow with the ADF, personnel, arriving from Friday.”