Ali France reveals her dying son’s plea – and the shocking claim that spurred her to achieve the unthinkable and oust Opposition Leader Peter Dutton from his seat

New federal MP Ali France has revealed the inspiring words her eldest son told her before he died from leukaemia at just 19 years old.

The mother-of-two has suffered many adversities in her life – from a life-threatening freak accident that resulted in the amputation of her leg to the death of her ex-husband from cancer and then her teenage son just months later.

But on May 3 she claimed victory over Peter Dutton in the Brisbane seat of Dickson, to oust the Opposition Leader from parliament. It was her third attempt against the man who had been the local MP for 24 years.

In an emotional interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, Ms France revealed she almost gave up on politics after her eldest son Henry, was diagnosed with leukemia in November 2022 while he was completing his HSC.

‘I said to him, ‘Well, I won’t be running in Dickson again’ … and he was just so angry about that,’ Ms France recalled.

‘He said, ‘Do not make me the excuse for you not doing important stuff’. And this is important stuff.’

Henry and his younger brother Zac, have both played integral roles in her election campaigns.

Ms France fought back tears as she claimed how some critics accused her during the recent election campaign of trying to use her son’s death to gain leverage against Mr Dutton.

Ali France revealed her teenage son Henry (pictured together) told her not to give up on ‘the important stuff’, including her political career, shortly before he died from leukemia

Henry (pictured in hospital with Ms France) was diagnosed with leukemia in 2022 and died two years later at age 19.

‘[People have said] that I’m using my son for political purposes. That I’m disgraceful because I’m talking about him and I’m a candidate in politics,’ Ms France said.

‘That I want sympathy and I’m only trying to get the sympathy vote.

‘I’ll never stop talking about Henry, never. The day that I stop talking about Henry is the day I join him.

‘And people can think of that whatever they will. I don’t care.’

Henry had been an avid supporter of Labor and his mother through the 2019 and 2022 federal elections before she finally won the seat a year after his death.

This time, she was assisted by 18-year-old Zac, who often joined her door-knocking and chatting with voters.

Yet just 14 years ago Ms France came awfully close to losing her youngest.

She and Zac, then just four years old, were at her local shopping centre when an elderly driver lost control of his car.

Ms France recalled pushing Zac away just moments before the car pinned her against another parked vehicle.

‘I had a split-second to try and push Zacko out of the way,’ she recalled. 

Ms France (pictured with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) ousted Peter Dutton from his seat of 24 years on May 3

Ms France (centre) celebrated her victory on election night with her youngest son Zac and father

‘The car just took me. There was smoke everywhere because he still had his foot on the accelerator.

Her son escaped injury but her femoral artery was severed in the crash.

The injury was so severe Ms France’s left leg had to be amputated without anaesthetic.

‘I didn’t feel any pain. I have a recollection of people standing over me, quite a lot of bright lights and things, but my brain essentially had just shut down,’ Ms France recalled. 

‘It changed everything about my life. Everything.’

The hardest part was understanding how she was differently perceived by others.

‘I went out to dinner for the first time after I lost my leg with my ex-husband and a lady said to me, this is hard to say but she said, ‘You’ve got such a pretty face. What a pity you’re in a wheelchair’,’ she recalled.

‘That hit me really hard.’

Ali France (pictured) attributes her win to her late son and hit back at critics who accused her of using Henry’s death for ‘political purposes’

Ali France celebrates with father Peter Lawlor and son Zac after becoming the first candidate to oust a sitting Opposition Leader from their seat at a federal election

After years of physical and mental pain, Ms France challenged public perceptions of disabilities by becoming a world champion canoeist and outspoken advocate.

Her work eventually led her to politics.

Ms France was joined by Zac and her father – former state MP Peter Lawlor on election night as she was introduced to the crowd by former Queensland Premier Steven Miles.

She made history as the first Australian to oust a sitting Opposition Leader from their seat at a federal election.

‘They said he was too popular, he was too well known, he had too much money,’ Ms France said during her victory speech. 

‘I was told that I didn’t stand a chance. I took all of that in and went, ‘Yeah, nah’.’ 

Following his humiliating defeat, Mr Dutton, who held the seat of Dickson for 24 years, congratulated Ms France and wished her luck.

‘We didn’t do well enough in this campaign, that much is obvious,’ Mr Dutton said during his concession speech.

‘There are good members and candidates who have lost their seats … and I am sorry for that.’

Ms France (pictured with Zac) tried to take the seat of Dickson twice before her 2025 victory

Although he may not have been there in person to see his mother’s victory, Ms France credits her win to Henry.

On February 20, the first anniversary of his passing, Ms France shared a touching tribute to her son.

‘I remind myself of his courage and bravery in the face of insurmountable odds every day. It drives me,’ she wrote.

‘Rest in peace my baby Henry. So missed, always loved, never forgotten.’

She told 60 Minutes: ‘Since I’ve lost Henry, what’s important has become just so incredibly crystal clear for me,’ she said.

‘I hope to have an impact in the areas in which I’m really passionate and be able to bring a bit of a different perspective to Canberra.’

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk