Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has opened up on critical media attention on his family, several months after a photo emerged of his son holding what appeared to be a clear bag containing white powder.
The Daily Telegraph reported in June the 18-year-old was pictured at a Gold Coast apartment in an image posted to Snapchat with the caption: “Birthday day treat. Hello how u goin.”
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Opposition Leader’s son pictured with small bag of white substance in Gold Coast apartment.
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Dutton’s office at the time declined to comment on the photo, saying it was a private matter.
The image was reportedly captured in a screenshot before it was deleted. 7NEWS.com.au is not suggesting the substance was drugs.
Politicians from both sides joined to condemn the media attention, saying coverage of families goes too far.
Now, in an interview with former 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell, Dutton has acknowledged the scandal and agreed that coverage of politicians’ relatives goes “too far”.
“I think those of us who are in public life deserve to be scrutinised and, you know, I would expect to be on the front page in that circumstance, or if it was a footy star or something, but that’s not how the media operates,” he said.
“And I’m not complaining about the rules of the game but when you see that impact on your own kids, that’s unfortunate.”
He said his son was at Schoolies when the photo was captured and made a “bad mistake”.
“They know that but for their surname, nobody would be interested,” Sutton said.
“Tom was at Schoolies and made a bad mistake, and we’ve spoken to our kids about social media and the rest of it. I’ve never had a day’s trouble with any of our kids.
“I’m very proud of who they are, but it pains me that a decision that I’ve made puts them in the spotlight. But that’s the reality of this job.”
Peter Dutton and wife Kirilly have two sons, Tom and Harry, while Dutton also has a daughter, Rebecca, from a previous relationship.
Dutton worked as a police officer for nine years, including stints in the drug squad but quit the force in 1999, two years before he was elected to parliament in 2001.
He previously spoke about his work, in an Instagram post after he became Opposition Leader in 2022.
“I’ve had tough jobs — firstly as a policeman dealing with serious sexual assaults and murders, to home affairs minister where I deported drug traffickers and child sex offenders,” he said.
“Most people have only seen that side of me.
“I hope now, in moving from such tough portfolios, the Australian public can see the rest of my character, the side my family, friends, and colleagues see.
“The side my community sees, where they have elected me eight times.”