Federal election 2025: Peter Dutton qualifies for $280k pension for life

In a silver lining to his cataclysmic election loss, Peter Dutton is entitled to a taxpayer-funded annual pension of up to $280,000 a year for the rest of his life.

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Peter Dutton is entitled to a taxpayer-funded annual pension of up to $280,000 a year for the rest of his life, new analysis has revealed.

The defeated Member for Dickson returned to Canberra for the first time since Saturday’s election night wipe-out, after which the Coalition has been reduced to just 40 seats.

There is a financial silver lining in the loss for Mr Dutton – estimated to already be a multimillionaire due to property dealings over his life – as he is one of a handful of MPs still eligible for a now-scrapped pension scheme.

Mr Dutton, who was first elected in 2001, has spent 24 years in the Lower House and has spent a total of 11½ years as a minister, nearly six years as a shadow minister, and nearly three years serving as an opposition leader.

The complicated pension scheme takes into account the time served in higher office and is calculated as percentage of an MP’s base pay – which is now $233,660 a year.

Analysis by The Courier-Mail shows Mr Dutton is on track for a pension worth about $280,000 a year, should he choose an annual payment. He can also choose a lump sum, which involves another complicated equation.

The annual sum is still lower than the $430,000 a year he was being paid as opposition leader.

It represents a silver lining for the first federal opposition leader to ever lose their seat at an election.

He lost his seat to Labor’s Ali France after a whopping 7 per cent swing against him on first preferences.

It is being projected the Greens’ Adam Bandt will become the second party leader this election to lose his seat.

The generous pension scheme was axed in 2004 by then prime minister John Howard (pictured with Mr Dutton during the recent election campaign). Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

Taxpayers could fork out close to $9m if Mr Dutton lives to be 81.1, the average life expectancy of an Australian man according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.

Mr Dutton lost his seat to Labor’s Ali France in a shock election result where he faced a seven-percentage-point decline in first-preference votes.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has been in parliament since 1996, will be eligible for a similarly generous pension whenever he retires from parliament.

Only a small number of current politicians remain entitled to the historic pension scheme, which was scrapped by then Liberal prime minister John Howard 21 years ago after pressure from then Labor leader Mark Latham.

They include Sussan Ley, Catherine King, Tanya Plibersek and Penny Wong.

The pension received by former prime minister and Queensland Labor MP Kevin Rudd was estimated at $216,000 in 2022.

Mr Dutton arrived in Canberra on Wednesday to a small media contingent and declined to answer questions about the future of the Coalition, stating that it was a matter for the party to determine.

He also declined to reveal why he was in Canberra.

“I think the model for me will be to lead a graceful silence,” he joked.

Asked how he was feeling after Saturday’s results, he said: “I’m very good, thank you.”

“I feel there are lots of opportunities but most importantly, to spend some time with family and friends and that’s about it,” he said.

“But as I said, the easiest thing for former leaders to do is maintain a graceful silence, so I’ll leave that to others.”

Originally published as Federal election 2025: Peter Dutton qualifies for $280k pension for life