Awkward moment Peter Dutton dodges huge WFH question as he is exposed for ‘hypocritical’ decision over where he’d choose to live as PM

By CHARLOTTE MCINTYRE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 02:24 BST, 2 April 2025 | Updated: 03:24 BST, 2 April 2025

Peter Dutton has been slammed as a ‘hypocrite’ for saying that, if elected as Prime Minister, he would base himself at Kirribilli House in Sydney rather than Canberra while proposing to ban working from home for public servants.

The Opposition Leader was grilled by the hosts of Triple M’s breakfast show on Wednesday after it was announced the Coalition would force federal public servants back into the office five days a week if elected. 

Triple M Radio host Mick Molloy asked: ‘Will you be the first PM to work from home?’

‘I don’t think it matters where I am,’ he replied.

‘Wherever you are, wherever you’re living it doesn’t matter.’

Earlier in the week he told the Kyle and Jackie O Show: ‘You’ve got the choice between Kirribilli or living in Canberra. I think I’ll take Sydney any day over living in Canberra.’

Mr Dutton was accused of double standards in saying he could base himself at the Sydney Harbour-front home and avoid Canberra, yet will not give public servants the same WFH opportunity. 

One irate commenter described him as a ‘f***ing hypocrite’.  

Peter Dutton (left) dodged a question about whether he would work from home as PM during an appearance on Triple M’s breakfast show on Wednesday morning

Mr Dutton previously said his family would prefer to live in Kirribilli House in Sydney (pictured)

‘He can commute to Canberra every weekday then and not be allowed to work from home as per his own rule,’ they wrote online. 

‘Peter Dutton denouncing public servant remote work while planning to govern from a waterfront home far from Parliament is like a lifeguard shouting “No swimming!” while floating on an inflatable lounge chair,’ another wrote.

A third remarked: ‘Surely not. He said he doesn’t want people working from home.’

Several Canberra-based politicians hit out at Mr Dutton over his remarks, including independent senator David Pocock.

‘Canberrans love the bush capital and we should have leaders who celebrate it, not play cheap politics taking pot shots at it,’ Pocock said.

Only a handful of Prime Ministers have chosen to live in Kirribilli House over The Lodge (pictured)

‘If Mr Dutton doesn’t want the Lodge then I’m sure Canberrans can vote in a way that doesn’t give him that option.’

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Perth’s Nova FM he thought the Opposition Leader ‘showed a fair bit of hubris’ with the admission. 

‘The prime minister’s residence, of course, is the Lodge,’ Mr Albanese said. ‘Not Kirribilli.’ 

Only a handful of Prime Ministers have chosen to live in Kirribilli House over The Lodge, including Liberal leaders John Howard and Scott Morrison, who were both from Sydney.  

While The Lodge is the primary home for the Prime Minister, Kirribilli House serves as a secondary official residence and was last occupied by Mr Morrison in 2022.

Mr Albanese, who also is from Sydney, has used it for functions but is not based there permanently. 

Kirribilli House is a Gothic-style harbourside mansion on the north shore of Sydney Harbour, opposite the Opera House.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Dutton’s office for comment.  

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Awkward moment Peter Dutton dodges huge WFH question as he is exposed for ‘hypocritical’ decision over where he’d choose to live as PM

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