Peter Dutton could be just days from becoming Australia’s next prime minister, as he looks set to mount a second attempt to topple Malcolm Turnbull.
Over the course of his 17 years in Canberra, the MP for the Division of Dickson has not backed away from making some controversial comments.
During his time as immigration minister, Mr Dutton notoriously joked about the plight of the Pacific Island nations facing rising seas due to climate change.
Peter Dutton handed in his resignation on Tuesday after a failed leadership challenge against Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for Australia’s top job
Over the course of his 17 years in Canberra the MP for the Division of Dickson has not backed away from making some controversial comments
‘Time doesn’t mean anything when you’re, you know, about to have water lapping at your door,’ he joked to then prime minister Tony Abbot and Scott Morrison.
The joke was a reference to the community roundtable they were attending running late and being on ‘Cape York time.’
Mr Morrison was quick to point out there was a boom microphone directed at the group.
Several Pacific Island leaders spoke out against the comments saying it was a very real issue that they were facing.
‘I made a mistake, I apologise to anyone who has taken offence. It was a light hearted discussion with the PM and I did not mean any offence to anyone,’ Mr Dutton later told Sky News.
He also told Sky News host Paul Murray in 2016 that illiterate and innumerate refugees would take Australian jobs or ‘languish’ on the dole, using free healthcare.
The comments were in response to comments about a Greens idea to boost the refugee intake to 50,000 people.
He does, however, have his fans, with one interview in particular being memorable for one of his supporters bringing the normally stony-faced minister to tears.
He also told Sky News host Paul Murray in 2016 that illiterate and innumerate refugees would take Australian jobs or ‘languish’ on the dole, using free healthcare
Steve Miller, the father of Brisbane one punch attack victim Cole, called in the Ray Hadley’s radio show during an interview with Dutton.
‘I’d just like to thank Peter, an accomplice to my son’s death was sentenced to over 12-months jail… and there was a bit of a mix up at the courthouse and he was let to walk free,’ Mr Miller said.
‘I got on to Peter Dutton’s office in Canberra, he was unavailable at the time and he rang me back at 4.30pm.’
‘He got onto the Queensland Police and Border Force immediately and that illegal immigrant was taken back into custody by 6.30pm that night and held for deportation to New Zealand.’
‘I’d like to that Peter Dutton for that, he didn’t know me from a bar of soap.’