Peter Dutton says he’s not fazed by Rebecca White’s rumoured Lyon’s run

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says Lyons is “crucial” to win the federal election and he’s not fazed that former Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White might be a contender.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton at Littlewood Berry Farm in Richmond, Tasmania. Picture: Linda Higginson

The federal opposition leader Peter Dutton says the electorate of Lyons is “crucial” if the coalition is to win the federal election – and he’s not fazed that former Labor leader Rebecca White might be a contender.

“It is a crucial seat for us, there’s no question about that,” he said at Richmond on Sunday.

“We have, in Susie Bower, a candidate who has demonstrated to the local community that she’s in touch, she’s a hard worker, she’s affable, and she will be a great representative of this local community in Canberra.

“It’s essential that we win the seat of Lyons, and I believe very much that we can do that with Susie because she’s demonstrated herself to be somebody who works really hard locally.”

Lyons is one of the most marginal seats in Australia and sitting member Brian Mitchell who has won the past three elections, has indicated he will stand aside if Ms White wants to run.

Liberal candidate for Lyons, Susie Bower with leader of the opposition, Peter Dutton. Picture: Linda Higginson

But Mr Dutton is not convinced Ms White, touted as a future federal minister, would win the rural seat.

“Well, I remember (former Queensland Premier) Peter Beattie running in a seat and he was a so-called ‘celebrity candidate’,” he said.

“But in the end, what people want is not somebody who’s in it for themselves, but somebody who is in it for the local community, and Susie is that candidate.

“She will fight for you day and night, and I think this (irrigation) announcement today demonstrates the effectiveness of her advocacy, of her passion for her community, and in the end, I believe very strongly that’s what the local residents will support.

“They will have somebody who will fight for them, not somebody who’s just in it because they’re looking after themselves.”

Asked if he was confident the Liberals would retain Bass, held by Bridget Archer, and Braddon where sitting MHR Gavin Pearce is retiring, Mr Dutton said: “I am, and I think, again, across Tasmania, the Coalition’s demonstrated at a state and federal level for some time now that we have the ability to work hard, roll our sleeves up and deliver for Tasmanians.”

He said Clark and Franklin were “obviously tougher seats” to win from Labor’s Julie Collins and independent Andrew Wilkie.

Mr Dutton said he made his first trip to Tasmania as a 16-year-old- “a long, long time ago” and it was “great to be back here”.

“I believe that we can win, and win well,” he said.

Mr Dutton said he believed people would vote on issues important to them.

“The government’s been distracted with the Voice, with the Makarrata Commission, with all sorts of other things and they just don’t have time for the issues that are most important to Australians, and in this case, to Tasmanians,” he said.