Peter Dutton says he is keen to show a ‘lighter side’ as he embraces a shift to the backbench

Peter Dutton has described himself as a man with a “self-deprecating sense of humour” who “likes a drink”.

Peter Dutton during an interview on Sky News.

Peter Dutton has described himself as a man with a “self-deprecating sense of humour” who “likes a drink”, embracing a shift to the backbench that will allow him to show his lighter side.

The former home affairs minister said he had been defined as a serious, hard man because of his portfolio that entailed dealing with offshore detention centres.

“I think in the immigration portfolio you are defined by Nauru and Manus,” Mr Dutton told Sky News. “The opportunity for me as a backbencher now is to talk to people about a lighter side; I think I have got a self-deprecating sense of humour and I like a drink like anyone else.”

.@PeterDutton_MP remains coy if he will contest @TurnbullMalcolm‘s leadership for a second time.

MORE: https://t.co/GTIxlh6z4R #auspol pic.twitter.com/K5Gq32yJdh

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 21, 2018

He said he wanted to talk more about his “normal” side. “When you are stuck in front of a camera talking about the serious issues of national security and border protection, it is pretty hard to crack a smile.

“It is an opportunity for me to ... talk about the other side that the public may not know.

“People don’t see you in a natural environment, a kids’ footy match on a Saturday or Sunday or those sorts of family events when otherwise they might see you.

“So that is the normal side of who I am, and I want to talk more about that.”

Mr Dutton said he would embrace being an outspoken backbencher but promised he would not snipe at Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership.

.@PeterDutton_MP : It is clear that the Australian public have a view that the migration number is too high. People are worried about housing affordability. This plays out in different ways across the country.

MORE: https://t.co/GTIxlh6z4R #auspol pic.twitter.com/OSEsk2NUel

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 21, 2018

He denied he was a puppet of former prime minister Tony Abbott, saying he had had “nothing to do” with the acrimony between Mr Abbott and the Prime Minister.

“I’m my own person,” he said. “And I believe very strongly in the fact that I want the Coalition to win the next election because I think we can provide the more powerful response to the sort of ­issues we are talking about.”

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