Peter Dutton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Peter Dutton
Dutton in 2024
Leader of the Opposition
In office 30 May 2022 – 3 May 2025
Prime Minister	Anthony Albanese
Deputy	Sussan Ley
Preceded by	Anthony Albanese
Succeeded by	Sussan Ley
15th Leader of the Liberal Party
In office 30 May 2022 – 5 May 2025
Deputy	Sussan Ley
Preceded by	Scott Morrison
Succeeded by	Sussan Ley
Ministerial offices held Minister for Defence In office 30 March 2021 – 23 May 2022 Prime Minister Scott Morrison Deputy Andrew Hastie Preceded by Linda Reynolds Succeeded by Richard Marles Leader of the House In office 30 March 2021 – 23 May 2022 Prime Minister Scott Morrison Preceded by Christian Porter Succeeded by Tony Burke Minister for Home Affairs In office 20 December 2017 – 30 March 2021 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison Succeeded by Karen Andrews Minister for Immigration and Border Protection In office 23 December 2014 – 21 August 2018 Prime Minister Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull Preceded by Scott Morrison Succeeded by David Coleman Minister for Health In office 18 September 2013 – 23 December 2014 Prime Minister Tony Abbott Preceded by Tanya Plibersek Succeeded by Sussan Ley Minister for Sport In office 18 September 2013 – 23 December 2014 Prime Minister Tony Abbott Preceded by Don Farrell Succeeded by Sussan Ley Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer In office 27 January 2006 – 3 December 2007 Prime Minister John Howard Preceded by Mal Brough Succeeded by Chris Bowen Minister for Workforce Participation In office 26 October 2004 – 27 January 2006 Prime Minister John Howard Preceded by Fran Bailey Succeeded by Sharman Stone
Member of the Australian Parliament for Dickson
In office 10 November 2001 – 3 May 2025
Preceded by	Cheryl Kernot
Succeeded by	Ali France
Personal details
Born	Peter Craig Dutton (1970-11-18) 18 November 1970 (age 54) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political party	Liberal (federal) LNP (state)
Other political affiliations	Liberal-National Coalition
Spouse	Kirilly Brumby ​ (m. 2003)​
Children	3
Education	Queensland University of Technology (BBus)
Signature
Police career
Department	Queensland Police
Years of service	1990–1999
Rank	Detective Senior Constable

Peter Craig Dutton (born 18 November 1970) is an Australian politician who was the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2022 to 2025. He was a member of parliament (MP) for the area of Dickson in Queensland from 2001 to 2025.

Dutton has held many important jobs in the Australian government. He was a senior minister in the governments of John Howard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison. These roles included Minister for Health, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Minister for Home Affairs, and Minister for Defence.

After the Liberal-National Coalition lost the 2022 election, Dutton was chosen to be the new leader of the Liberal Party. This made him the Leader of the Opposition, whose job is to challenge the government and offer different ideas. He was the first Liberal leader from Queensland.

Dutton led the Coalition into the 2025 election, where his party was defeated. In that election, Dutton lost his own seat of Dickson, which is a rare event for the leader of a major political party.

Early Life and Career

Peter Dutton was born on 18 November 1970, in Brisbane, Queensland. He grew up in a suburb of Brisbane and was the oldest of five children. His father was a builder and his mother worked in childcare. After finishing high school, he joined the Young Liberals, a group for young people interested in the Liberal Party.

Before entering politics, Dutton worked as a police officer with the Queensland Police for almost ten years. After leaving the police force, he started a construction business with his father. He also studied business at the Queensland University of Technology and earned his degree.

Political Career

Entering Parliament

In 2001, at the age of 30, Dutton was elected to the Australian Parliament. He won the seat of Dickson for the Liberal Party. In his first few years, he was a backbencher, which is an MP who is not a minister or a shadow minister. He was active in discussions about family and community issues.

In 2004, Prime Minister John Howard made him a minister. He was first the Minister for Workforce Participation and later became the Assistant Treasurer.

Years in Opposition

The Coalition lost the 2007 election, and the Liberal Party became the opposition. Dutton was given a role in the Shadow Cabinet, which is a team of senior opposition members who "shadow" the government ministers. He was the Shadow Minister for Health for six years.

In 2008, the government made a formal Apology to the Stolen Generations. At the time, Dutton chose not to attend the event. He later said that he regretted his decision and did not understand how important the apology was to many people. In 2023, he officially said he was sorry for not being there.

Cabinet Minister (2013–2022)

Dutton (second from right) announcing the creation of the new Home Affairs portfolio in July 2017

When the Coalition won the 2013 election, Dutton became a senior minister in the Cabinet.

Minister for Health and Sport

As Minister for Health, Dutton was in charge of Australia's health system. One of his main achievements was creating the Medical Research Future Fund. This is a special fund to support new medical discoveries and research for years to come.

Minister for Immigration and Home Affairs

In 2014, Dutton became the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. In this role, he was responsible for Australia's immigration policies and border security. In 2015, he made a comment about rising sea levels in the Pacific Islands that was heard on an open microphone. Many people found the comment insensitive, and Dutton later apologized.

In 2017, he became the first Minister for Home Affairs. This was a new "super-department" that combined national security, law enforcement, and immigration into one area.

Leadership Challenge

In August 2018, many people in the Liberal Party were unhappy with the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull. Dutton challenged Turnbull for the leadership of the party but lost. A few days later, Turnbull resigned as Prime Minister. In a second vote, Scott Morrison defeated Dutton to become the new leader and Prime Minister.

Minister for Defence

Dutton at Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021, flanked by Major General Jake Ellwood and US Colonel Matthew Dalton

In 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison appointed Dutton as the Minister for Defence. In this role, he was in charge of the Australian Defence Force. During his time as minister, he announced the end of Australia's 20-year military mission in Afghanistan.

Leader of the Opposition (2022–2025)

Dutton speaking at an event in 2023

The Coalition lost the 2022 election, and Scott Morrison stepped down as leader. Peter Dutton was elected as the new leader of the Liberal Party without any opposition. This made him the Leader of the Opposition.

In 2023, the government proposed a change to the constitution called the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Dutton announced that the Liberal Party would officially oppose the change. This caused some disagreement within his party, and some Liberal MPs chose to support the referendum.

In January 2024, Dutton called for people to boycott Woolworths after the company decided not to sell Australia Day products.

2025 Federal Election

Dutton led the Liberal-National Coalition into the 2025 election on 3 May. The election resulted in a major defeat for the Coalition. Dutton lost his own seat of Dickson to the Labor candidate, Ali France. It was the first time an Opposition Leader had lost their seat in an election. In his speech after the election, Dutton took responsibility for the loss. His deputy, Sussan Ley, was later elected to replace him as the leader of the Liberal Party.

Political Views

Dutton is considered a conservative politician. He has stated that he supports Australia remaining a monarchy instead of becoming a republic.

He has also expressed support for nuclear power in Australia. He believes it could provide clean and reliable energy. In 2018, he suggested that school children should be required to make a pledge of loyalty to Australia.

Personal Life

Dutton has been married twice. He has a daughter from a previous relationship and two sons with his wife, Kirilly.

In March 2020, he announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, and he recovered after a period of illness. Dutton also has a skin condition called alopecia totalis, which causes hair loss.

He is a fan of the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League and the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League.

Electoral Performance

See also

In Spanish: Peter Dutton para niños