Labor candidate Ali France accused of bullying Peter Dutton with ‘Potato Night’ fundraiser

A Labor candidate’s controversial fundraiser that was accused of bullying Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been quietly renamed after major backlash.

Labor’s candidate for Dickson Ali France sent out email invites to supporters for a “Potato Night” fundraiser with potato-themed activities targeting Peter Dutton’s appearance.

A “distasteful” Labor fundraiser by the woman trying to oust Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been quietly renamed after accusations of bullying and grubby politics.

It comes as Treasurer Jim Chalmers labelled Mr Dutton “one of the most divisive characters that’s run for Prime Minisiter in this country” while personally committing not to poke fun at anyone’s appearance.

Labor’s candidate for Dickson Ali France sent out email invites to supporters for a “Potato Night” fundraiser with potato-themed activities—in a “distasteful” nod to disparaging nicknames which target Mr Dutton’s appearance.

It prompted backlash from the Coalition, with calls for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to pull his candidates into line.

The event booking site has now been renamed to “Night of Nostalgia”, promising attendees a “fun night of games from your childhood and beyond”.

The candidate in the upcoming Federal Election for the seat of Dickson currently being held by Peter Dutton is having a Potato Night fundraiser

Neither Queensland Labor nor Ms France have responded to requests for comment.

Mr Albanese has also been approached for comment.

Mr Chalmers, federal Labor’s highest ranking Queensland MP, claimed he had not heard of the Dickson fundraiser before taking aim at Mr Dutton’s “divisive character”.

“I think Peter Dutton is one of the, if not the most divisive character that’s run for Prime Minister in this country,” he said.

“I mean it’s a bit rich for him to call the whambulance about reflections on his time in office.”

Mr Chalmers said voters would not hear him “poking fun at anyone’s appearance”.

Townsville-based Coalition MP and Opposition Assistant Defence spokesman Phillip Thompson yesterday slammed the fundraiser as grubby politics.

“We are seeing again and again, time after time, disgusting personal attacks from the Labor Party. And it just goes to show that they will sink to new depths every time,” Mr Thompson said.

“And I think it’s not just distasteful, but it’s disgusting to attack someone on their personal appearance. It is grubby politics. It is bullying.

“We have the Labor Party, time and time again going after the Leader of the Opposition. First, it was his wife, and now it’s his appearance. I think that the Prime Minister needs to pull his candidates in to line, because this growing behaviour is becoming all too frequent.”

Ms France, in the email to supporters, outlines how the $25-a-head fundraiser at the Murrumba Downs Tavern will be potato-themed and include activities like “build your own bake potato/ sweet potato” and potato bowls.

Mr Dutton has spoken previously about having alopecia, a condition that causes people to lose hair from a single area or from multiple areas of their head, face or body.

The “distasteful” fundraiser comes a fortnight after Mr Albanese ordered Victorian Labor to remove a meme mocking Mr Dutton and his wife Kirilly on social media.

Queensland Labor was contacted for comment, including if they would order Ms France to take down or rename the fundraiser and if the party unit believed the theme was acceptable.

Labor candidate for the seat of Dickson Ali France. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Herbert MP Mr Thompson said the offensive fundraiser was a similar to the Victorian Labor attack against Mr Dutton, labelling it “personal”.

“I would hope there would be some sort of leadership and decency in (Mr Albanese) to call up this candidate, pull the candidate into line, and say ‘we don’t attack people’s appearance’,” he said.

“We should be above that.”

Mr Dutton holds his seat, in Brisbane’s outer north, with a margin of 1.7 per cent - making it the most marginal federal electorate in Queensland.

It will be the third time Mr Dutton faces Ms France as his Labor challenger.

In 2019 Mr Dutton apologised to Ms France for suggesting she was using her disability as an “excuse” for not living in the Dickson electorate.

Ms France, a disability advocate and motivational speaker, lost her left leg below the knee after a horrific incident in 2011 when an elderly driver slammed into her in a Brisbane shopping centre carpark.

Originally published as Labor candidate Ali France accused of bullying Peter Dutton with ‘Potato Night’ fundraiser