Peter Dutton

Dutton was born on 18 November 1970 in the northern Brisbane suburb of Boondall. Dutton is the great-great-grandson of the pastoralist squatter and politician Charles Boydell Dutton.{{cite web |last1=Bartlett |first1=Samuel |title=Everything you need to know about Peter Dutton |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-peter-dutton-043018941.html |website=Yahoo! News |access-date=4 June 2022 |date=6 December 2021 |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530055117/https://au.news.yahoo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-peter-dutton-043018941.html |url-status=live }} He is also a descendant of Captain Richard James Coley, who was Queensland's first Sergeant-at-Arms, who built Brisbane's first private dwelling and who gave evidence confirming the mass poisonings of Aboriginal Australians at Kilcoy in 1842.{{Citation | author1=Langevad, Gerry | title=Captain Coley - Queensland's first Sergeant-at-Arms | publication-date=1979-01-01 | publisher=Royal Historical Society of Queensland | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38258770 |access-date=22 March 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507104031/https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38258770 | url-status=live}}

Dutton is the eldest of five children, with one brother and three sisters. His mother Ailsa Leitch worked in childcare and his father Bruce Dutton was a builder. Dutton finished high school at the Anglican St Paul's School, Bald Hills. He worked cash in hand at a butcher shop during his school years, and his parents separated shortly after he graduated.{{cite web|url=https://iview.abc.net.au/video/FA2211H002S00|title=Kitchen Cabinet Series 7 Episode 2|date=22 August 2023|first=Annabel|last=Crabb|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|quote=Peter Dutton: I was very shy.
Annabel Crabb: What brought you out of that?
PD: I think working in a butcher shop, which I did from sort of Grade 7 until I started uni.
AC: Grade 7?
PD: After school, yeah.
AC: What, so when you were, like, twelve or something?
PD: Yeah, after school, so, um...
AC: Was that legal?
PD: Uh... and it was a cash job as well, for most of it.
AC: Oh, great!
PD: So, as I look back, perhaps... perhaps not.
AC: Your mum and dad got divorced when you were in your teens, is that right?
PD: Yeah, well, I think they sort of, whilst I was the eldest of five, I think in hindsight they waited until I'd finished school and then, yeah, they separated shortly thereafter.
AC: Was that a massive shock?
PD: I think I felt sort of disappointed and angry at the time, that they weren't able to work things out.|access-date=28 August 2023|archive-date=16 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916020649/https://iview.abc.net.au/show/kitchen-cabinet/series/7/video/FA2211H002S00|url-status=live}}

Dutton joined the Young Liberals in 1988 aged 18. He became the policy vice-chair of the Bayside Young Liberals the following year and chair of the branch in 1990. At the 1989 Queensland state election, the 19-year-old Dutton ran unsuccessfully as the Liberal candidate against Tom Burns, a former state Labor leader, in the safe Labor seat of Lytton.{{Cite web |url=https://www.peterdutton.com.au/about/maiden-speech/|title=Maiden Speech |author=Peter Dutton (Dickson)|website=peterdutton.com.au |date=13 February 2002 |archive-date=3 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603100441/http://www.peterdutton.com.au/MeetPeter/MaidenSpeech.aspx |url-status=live|via=Hansard, pp54–56}}

According to a leaked transcript of his academic record, in 1989 Dutton failed four of six subjects in his first year of a Bachelor of Business degree at Queensland University of Technology. This prompted him to join the police force and study business part time, graduating a decade later.{{cite news |author=Grigg |first=Angus |date=23 August 2013 |title=Leadership spill: Peter Dutton, the aspiring prime minister who failed uni |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/peter-dutton-the-aspiring-prime-minister-who-failed-uni-20180823-h14cqn |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603045352/https://www.afr.com/politics/peter-dutton-the-aspiring-prime-minister-who-failed-uni-20180823-h14cqn |archive-date=3 June 2022 |access-date=7 April 2025}}{{cite web |author=Schubert |first=Misha |date=7 October 2009 |title=To some he's the messiah, to others a duplicitous polly |url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/to-some-hes-the-messiah-to-others-a-duplicitous-polly-20091006-glh1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312180654/http://www.theage.com.au/national/to-some-hes-the-messiah-to-others-a-duplicitous-polly-20091006-glh1.html |archive-date=12 March 2015 |access-date=24 May 2014}}{{cite Au Parliament |name=Hon Peter Dutton MP |mpid=00AKI |access-date=2021-11-07}}

Dutton graduated from the Queensland Police Academy in 1990. He was a Queensland Police officer for nearly a decade, working in the drug squad in Brisbane in the early 1990s.{{cite web |url=http://www.peterdutton.com.au/MeetPeter/AboutPeter.aspx |title=About Peter Dutton|work=PetterDutton.com.au |access-date=21 December 2014 |archive-date=9 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509195611/http://www.peterdutton.com.au/MeetPeter/AboutPeter.aspx |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2013/guide/dick/ |title=Federal Election 2013 - Dickson Results|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 October 2013 |archive-date=12 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112064655/http://www.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2013/guide/dick/ |url-status=live}} He also worked in the sex offenders squad and with the National Crime Authority.{{Cite news |url=https://player.whooshkaa.com/shows/sky-news-the-bolt-report |publisher=Sky News|title=The Bolt Report |website=Whooshkaa |archive-date=22 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222193829/https://player.whooshkaa.com/shows/sky-news-the-bolt-report}} In 1999, Dutton left the Queensland Police, having reached the rank of detective senior constable.{{cite news |last=Gothe-Snape |first=Jackson |date=11 May 2019 |title=Divided by politics but united by trauma |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-11/federal-election-peter-dutton-ali-france-united-by-trauma/11057856?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment |work=ABC News |location= |access-date= |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111210954/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-11/federal-election-peter-dutton-ali-france-united-by-trauma/11057856?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=19 July 2017 |title=Peter Dutton tough cop on the beat for new Home Affairs |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/peter-dutton-tough-cop-on-the-beat-for-new-home-affairs/news-story/b22103c11c28cc5be95ef065abdae9df |work=The Australian |location= |access-date= |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405104612/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/peter-dutton-tough-cop-on-the-beat-for-new-home-affairs/news-story/b22103c11c28cc5be95ef065abdae9df |url-status=live }} Documentation filed in the District Court of Queensland in 2000 describes his resignation as being prompted by a loss of driving confidence after a car crash in August 1998. During a covert surveillance operation, he rolled his unmarked Mazda 626 car while in pursuit of an escaped prisoner who was driving erratically. Dutton suffered numerous injuries in the accident, and was hospitalised briefly and bedridden for a week. He sought damages of {{AUD|250,000|link=yes}}, equivalent to {{AUD|{{Inflation|AU|250000|1998|r=0}}}} in {{Inflation/year|AU}}, from the escaped prisoner's insurance company but dropped the claim in 2005.{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-11/federal-election-peter-dutton-ali-france-united-by-trauma/11057856 |title=Examining why Peter Dutton left the force reveals a strange coincidence |last=Machan |first=Emma |date=11 May 2019 |website=ABC News|language=en-AU |access-date=1 January 2020 |archive-date=28 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128173647/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-11/federal-election-peter-dutton-ali-france-united-by-trauma/11057856 |url-status=live}}

On leaving the police, he and his father founded the business Dutton Holdings, which was registered in 2000; it operated under six different trading and business names.{{Cite web |url=http://abr.business.gov.au/ |title=ABN Lookup |date=1 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815074306/http://abr.business.gov.au/ |archive-date=15 August 2000 |url-status=dead |access-date=3 June 2017}} The company bought, renovated, and converted buildings into childcare centres. In 2002 it sold three childcare centres to the now defunct ABC Learning, which continued to pay annual rent of {{AUD|100,000}}, equivalent to {{AUD|{{Inflation|AU|100000|2002|r=0}}}} in {{Inflation/year|AU}}, to Dutton Holdings.{{Cite news |title=How Peter Dutton got rich |last=Reynolds |first=Emma |website=news.com.au |date=23 August 2018 |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/peter-dutton-and-his-journey-to-millionaires-row/news-story/a9608d1e2c0cbccf99055c72254a6655 |access-date=25 May 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301081620/https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/peter-dutton-and-his-journey-to-millionaires-row/news-story/a9608d1e2c0cbccf99055c72254a6655 |url-status=live }} Dutton Holdings continued to trade under the name Dutton Building & Development.{{Cite web|url=https://abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View/51010897793|publisher=Australian Business Register|title=Historical details for ABN 51 010 897 793}} Record extracted 04 May 2025.

In early 2001, Dutton won Liberal preselection for the seat of Dickson in Brisbane's northern suburbs, reportedly with the support of Liberal powerbroker Santo Santoro.{{sfn|Blaine|2024|p=28}} He was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2001 election, aged 30. He defeated the high-profile incumbent Australian Labor Party (ALP) MP Cheryl Kernot, a shadow cabinet minister and former leader of the Australian Democrats, with Dickson regarded as a key target seat for the Coalition.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-26/defining-dutton/14066096|title=Defining Dutton: Can the Liberals succeed under Peter Dutton?|work=Four Corners|publisher=ABC News|date=26 September 2022|access-date=8 January 2025}}

Dutton's first overseas trip as an MP was a visit to the site of the September 11 attacks in New York City. In his maiden speech in February 2002 he stated that the "silent majority" and "forgotten people" were dissatisfied with "the boisterous minority and the politically correct" and "the dictatorship of the trade union movement". He was also critical of members of the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, who he said were "obsessed with the rights of criminals yet do not utter a word of understanding or compassion for the victims of crime".{{sfn|Blaine|2024|pp=31-32}}

Dutton had a relatively high profile as a first-term backbencher.{{sfn|Blaine|2024|p=32}} He was appointed to the House Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs in 2002 and served on an inquiry into family law and the Child Support Agency, where he advocated for lawyers to have less of a role in determining parental custody. The inquiry's report was publicly criticised by Alastair Nicholson, the chief justice of the Family Court of Australia, who said its proposals were "impractical and naive".{{sfn|Blaine|2024|p=33}}

Dutton also spoke frequently on crime topics, including supporting the death penalty for the perpetrators of the 2002 Bali bombings and supporting legislation that would allow businesses to refuse service to drug addicts.{{sfn|Blaine|2024|p=33-34}} In 2004, following the High Court decision in R v Carroll, he accompanied Faye Kennedy, the mother of murdered infant Deidre Kennedy, on a statewide tour to promote "Deirdre's Law", which sought to amend the double jeopardy provisions of Queensland's criminal code.{{sfn|Blaine|2024|p=34}}

On 26 October 2004, Dutton was appointed Minister for Workforce Participation in the Howard government, following the Coalition's re-election at the 2004 election. He was seen as politically close to Prime Minister John Howard. In July 2005, he was one of the few government ministers to support Howard's suggestion that a national identity card be introduced as an anti-terrorism measure, with a number of cabinet ministers publicly opposing the idea.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-07-19/dutton-carries-flag-for-id-card/2061664|title=Dutton carries flag for ID card|date=19 July 2005|access-date=8 January 2025|publisher=ABC News}}

Dutton was responsible for the government's suite of "welfare-to-work" policies, which were intended to break generational poverty and welfare dependency.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-12-05/welfare-to-work-plan-will-ease-poverty-govt/755134|title=Welfare-to-work plan will ease poverty: Govt|date=5 December 2005|access-date=8 January 2025|publisher=ABC News}} In November 2004, he flagged that the government would be looking at measures to encourage disability support pensioners to enter the workforce.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-11-24/govt-determined-to-move-disability-pensioners-into/591216?pfm=ms|title=Govt 'determined' to move disability pensioners into work|date=24 November 2004|access-date=8 January 2025|publisher=ABC News}} The following year he announced that disability support pensioners deemed capable of working more than 15 hours per week would be moved to the Newstart Allowance.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-09-13/disability-pensioners-worse-off-under-welfare/2102862|title=Disability pensioners 'worse off' under welfare reforms|date=13 September 2005|access-date=8 January 2025|publisher=ABC News}} Changes were also made to rules for single parents, with recipients required to prove that they were not in a de facto relationship or face a reduced payment.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-06-30/govt-defends-new-centrelink-rules-for-single/2048374|title=Govt defends new Centrelink rules for single parents|date=30 June 2005|access-date=8 January 2025|publisher=ABC News}} In April 2005, Dutton announced that single parents would be required to seek employment once their youngest children entered school or receive a decrease in welfare payments. He stated that the changes were necessary to "ensure welfare dependency is not entrenched".{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/sole-parent-work-plan-attacked-20050402-gdzwgm.html|title=Sole parent work plan attacked|newspaper=The Age|date=2 April 2005|access-date=8 January 2025}}

Following a ministerial reshuffle, Dutton was appointed Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Revenue on 27 January 2006. He had previously worked closely with Treasurer Peter Costello on the welfare reforms,{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/welfare-changes-will-ease-poverty-says-dutton-20051206-jg668|title=Welfare changes will ease poverty, says Dutton|date=6 December 2005|access-date=8 January 2025|first=Sophie|last=Morris|newspaper=Australian Financial Review}} and was reportedly a "strident proponent" of WorkChoices, the government's industrial relations reform package.{{sfn|Blaine|2024|p=35}} He successfully retained Dickson at the 2007 election, which saw the government lose office; however, his margin was reduced to 217 votes more than Labor's Fiona McNamara.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/qld/dickson.htm |title=Profile of the electoral division of Dickson |website=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=4 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504110752/http://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/qld/dickson.htm |url-status=live}}

Following the 2007 election, Dutton was promoted to shadow cabinet by the new Liberal leader Brendan Nelson, as Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation.{{cite web |title=Nelson Shadow Ministry |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/05%20About%20Parliament/54%20Parliamentary%20Depts/544%20Parliamentary%20Library/Handbook/ShadowMinistry_6dec07-22sep08.pdf?la=en |website=Parliament of Australia |access-date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=19 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519031228/https://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/05 |url-status=live }} In 2008, he chose not to be present in the chamber during the apology to the Stolen Generations, which enjoyed bipartisan support. He said "I regarded it as something which was not going to deliver tangible outcomes to kids who are being raped and tortured in communities in the 21st century."{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2840015.htm |title=Q&A, Conservatives, Comedians and Political Correctness |date=15 March 2010 |website=ABC |access-date=4 June 2017 |archive-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525215016/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/qanda/txt/s2840015.htm |url-status=live}} Later, in a 2014 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Dutton said he regretted boycotting the apology: "I underestimated the symbolic and cultural significance of it." In 2023 Dutton apologised for skipping the apology, saying he had "failed to grasp" its significance.{{Cite web |title=Dutton apologises for boycotting Rudd's apology to stolen generations {{!}} Stolen generations {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/13/dutton-apologises-for-boycotting-rudds-apology-to-stolen-generations |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=amp.theguardian.com |date=13 February 2023 |archive-date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906104824/https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/13/dutton-apologises-for-boycotting-rudds-apology-to-stolen-generations |url-status=live }}

In September 2008, Nelson was replaced as Liberal leader by Malcolm Turnbull, who appointed Dutton as Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing. He retained that position when Tony Abbott succeeded Turnbull as leader in December 2009.{{cite web |title=Turnbull Shadow Ministry |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/05%20About%20Parliament/54%20Parliamentary%20Depts/544%20Parliamentary%20Library/Handbook/ShadowMinistry_22sep2008-23jan2009.pdf?la=en |website=Parliament of Australia |access-date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=26 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626225144/http://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/05%20About%20Parliament/54%20Parliamentary%20Depts/544%20Parliamentary%20Library/Handbook/ShadowMinistry_22sep2008-23jan2009.pdf?la=en |url-status=live}} In June 2010, Dutton released the Coalition's mental health policy. The Australian described it as "the most significant announcement by any political party in relation to a targeted, evidence-based investment in mental health",{{cite news |last1=Cresswell |first1=Adam |title=Experts hail a policy 'game-changer' |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/experts-hail-a-policy-game-changer/story-e6frg6n6-1225886440963|work=The Australian}} {{Dead link|date=May 2022|fix-attempted=yes}} but not all experts agreed.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s2985086.htm |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|series=The World Today |title=Health experts rate the parties' policies |first=Eleanor |last=Hall|others=Interview with Jeff Kennett and John Dwyer |date=17 August 2010 |access-date=8 June 2019 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308021145/https://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s2985086.htm |url-status=live}}

Dutton retained his seat with a positive swing at the 2010 election, despite an unfavourable redistribution. In the lead-up to the 2013 election, he announced a range of Coalition health policies, which were received favourably by industry groups. The Australian Medical Association said "the Coalition has delivered a strong package of practical, affordable health policies that would strengthen general practice",{{cite web |title=Coalition has been listening on health policy |url=https://ama.com.au/media/coalition-has-been-listening-health-policy |website=AMA |date=22 August 2013 |access-date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820024219/https://ama.com.au/media/coalition-has-been-listening-health-policy |url-status=live}} while Cancer Council Australia said that "Dutton's promise to finalise the bowel cancer screening program by 2020 would save an additional 35,000 lives over the next 40 years".{{cite web |title=New Health Minister Peter Dutton set to save 35,000 Australian lives, says Cancer Council |url=http://www.cancer.org.au/news/media-releases/new-health-minister-peter-dutton-set-to-save-35000-australian-lives-says-cancer-council.html |website=Cancer Council Australia |access-date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=22 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822194159/http://www.cancer.org.au/news/media-releases/new-health-minister-peter-dutton-set-to-save-35000-australian-lives-says-cancer-council.html |url-status=live}}

As the 2010 election approached, there was a risk that Dutton would lose to the Labor candidate due to a redistribution of division boundaries that had erased his majority and made Dickson notionally Labor. As a result, Dutton sought pre-selection for the merged Liberal National Party in the safe Liberal seat of McPherson on the Gold Coast (despite not living in or near McPherson).{{Cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/doorknocking-dutton-has-work-cut-out-20091020-h75g.html |title=Door-knocking Dutton has work cut out |last=Calligeros |first=Marissa |date=22 October 2009|work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022185121/https://www.smh.com.au/national/doorknocking-dutton-has-work-cut-out-20091021-h75g.html |url-status=live}} Some constituents criticized the decision, and according to a Dickson LNP member, "the abandoning of a seat by a sitting MP halfway through a parliamentary term to contest pre-selection in a seat over 100 kilometres to the south is not looked upon favourably by those constituents abandoned in the first place."{{Cite web |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/23/constituents-not-happy-about-dutton-dumping-dickson/ |title=Constituents not happy about Dutton dumping Dickson |date=23 September 2009 |website=Crikey |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210122201/https://www.crikey.com.au/2009/09/23/constituents-not-happy-about-dutton-dumping-dickson/ |url-status=live}}

Dutton lost the McPherson pre-selection to Karen Andrews, reportedly due to misgivings from former Nationals in the area.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pollbludger.net/fed2016/dickson/ |title=Federal Election 2016: Dickson |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=23 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123080141/https://www.pollbludger.net/fed2016/dickson/ |url-status=live}} He then asked the LNP for a seat with an uncontested pre-selection, which Liberal MP Alex Somlyay (the chief Opposition whip of the time) said was "unusual".{{Cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/dutton-seeks-seat-without-a-struggle-20091006-glh0.html |title=Dutton seeks seat without a struggle |last=Grattan |first=Michelle |date=7 October 2009|work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201132850/http://www.smh.com.au/national/dutton-seeks-seat-without-a-struggle-20091006-glh0.html |url-status=live}} When the state executive did not provide Dutton an uncontested pre-selection, Dutton returned to campaign for the seat of Dickson.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-20/dutton-to-fight-for-dickson/1111186 |title=Dutton to fight for Dickson |date=20 October 2009|publisher=ABC News |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=25 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225210052/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-20/dutton-to-fight-for-dickson/1111186 |url-status=live}}{{Citation |title=Dickson Decides |date=23 October 2009 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-23/dickson-decides/1115388 |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=23 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323011658/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-23/dickson-decides/1115388 |url-status=live}} In the election, he won the seat with a 5.9% swing towards him.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2010/guide/dick.htm |title=Dickson (2010 federal election) |website=ABC News |date=6 September 2010 |access-date=27 April 2021 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308222643/https://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2010/guide/dick.htm |url-status=live}}

{{See also|Abbott government|Turnbull government|Morrison government}}

Dutton retained his seat at the 2013 election. He was appointed to the new ministry by Prime Minister Tony Abbott as Minister for Health and Minister for Sport. As Health Minister, Dutton announced the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund. As announced, the capital and any ongoing capital gains of the Medical Research Future Fund will be preserved in perpetuity.{{cn|date=November 2021}}

Under Dutton, projected funding in the health portfolio increased in the 2014–15 Budget to $66.9 billion, an increase of 7.5 percent from $62.2 billion in 2012–13, the final full year of the Labor government. Projected expenditure on Medicare increased over 9.5 percent from $18.5 billion in 2012–13 under Labor to a projected $20.32 billion in 2014–15 under Dutton.{{cite web |title=Budget 2014–15 |url=http://www.budget.gov.au/2014-15/content/bp1/download/BP1_combined.pdf |access-date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082045/http://budget.gov.au/2014-15/content/bp1/download/BP1_combined.pdf |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Budget 2013–14 |url=http://www.budget.gov.au/2013-14/content/bp1/html/index.htm |access-date=2 August 2016 |archive-date=4 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804221454/http://www.budget.gov.au/2013-14/content/bp1/html/index.htm |url-status=live}} Funding for public hospital services increased by nearly 14 percent under Dutton in the 2014–15 Budget to a projected $15.12 billion compared to $13.28 billion in the last full year of the Labor government in 2012–13. In a 2015 poll by Australian Doctor magazine, based on votes from over 1,100 doctors, Dutton was voted the worst health minister in the last 35 years by 46 percent of respondents.{{cite web |title=Peter Dutton ranked as worst health minister in 35 years in poll of doctors |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/12/peter-dutton-ranked-as-worst-health-minister-in-35-years-in-poll-of-doctors |website=Guardian Australia |date=12 January 2015 |access-date=1 February 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202151819/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/12/peter-dutton-ranked-as-worst-health-minister-in-35-years-in-poll-of-doctors |url-status=live}}

File:Peter Dutton and Dimitris Avramopoulos.jpg in 2016]]

On 23 December 2014, Dutton was sworn in as the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection after a cabinet

reshuffle.{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/new-abbott-ministry-sworn-in-by-governorgeneral-sir-peter-cosgrove-20141223-12cnfl.html |title=New Abbott ministry sworn in by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=23 December 2014 |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=25 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225230519/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/new-abbott-ministry-sworn-in-by-governorgeneral-sir-peter-cosgrove-20141223-12cnfl.html |url-status=live}} In September 2015, Dutton cancelled the visa of anti-abortion activist Troy Newman, over remarks in his 2000 book Their Blood Cries Out.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/world/asia/troy-newman-head-of-anti-abortion-group-is-held-in-australia-over-canceled-visa.html |title=Troy Newman, Head of U.S. Anti-Abortion Group, Is Held in Australia Over Canceled Visa |date=2 October 2015 |work=The New York Times |access-date=3 March 2017 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312122828/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/world/asia/troy-newman-head-of-anti-abortion-group-is-held-in-australia-over-canceled-visa.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/troy-newman-claims-he-never-called-executing-abortionists-has-he-read-his-own-book |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103195043/http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/troy-newman-claims-he-never-called-executing-abortionists-has-he-read-his-own-book |title=Troy Newman Claims He Never Called For Executing 'Abortionists.' Has He Read His Own Book? |date=October 2015 |archive-date=3 January 2016}}

In 2016, News Corp Sunday political editor Samantha Maiden wrote a column critical of Jamie Briggs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/samantha-maiden-jamie-briggs-booted-for-being-fool/news-story/fa2a2b843689691f1c104c62e59d4868 |title=Briggs booted for being fool |date=2 January 2016 |website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301065505/https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/samantha-maiden-jamie-briggs-booted-for-being-fool/news-story/fa2a2b843689691f1c104c62e59d4868 |url-status=live}} Dutton drafted a text message to Briggs describing Maiden as a "mad fucking witch" but inadvertently sent it to Maiden.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/04/peter-dutton-apologises-for-calling-journalist-a-mad-witch-in-text-message |title=Peter Dutton apologises for calling journalist a 'mad witch' in text message |date=4 January 2016 |access-date=25 March 2017 |work=The Guardian" |author=Shalailah Medhora |archive-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325203746/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/04/peter-dutton-apologises-for-calling-journalist-a-mad-witch-in-text-message |url-status=live}} Maiden accepted an apology from Dutton.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-04/samantha-maiden-happy-to-accept-peter-dutton's/7066080 |title=Samantha Maiden says she is happy to accept Peter Dutton's apology |date=3 January 2016 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=16 January 2016 |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107045422/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-04/samantha-maiden-happy-to-accept-peter-dutton's/7066080 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |title=Peter Dutton says sorry to journalist for 'mad witch' text |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-04/dutton-apologises-after-sending-text/7065546 |newspaper=ABC News |date=3 January 2016 |access-date=4 January 2016 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104064714/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-04/dutton-apologises-after-sending-text/7065546 |url-status=live}}

On 5 June 2015, Dutton denied claims made by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young that she was spied on during a visit to Nauru. He called into question Hanson-Young's credibility, saying "I have evidence that Senator Hanson-Young over-states every issue. She gets her facts wrong most of the time. And I just think you need to look at it in the light of experience with Senator Hanson-Young. If she's got evidence, produce it."{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/sarah-hansonyoung-labels-tony-abbott-creepy-over-his-response-to-nauru-spying-allegations-20150605-ghhehb.html |title=Sarah Hanson-Young labels Tony Abbott creepy over his response to Nauru spying allegations |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=5 June 2015 |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=24 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224052829/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/sarah-hansonyoung-labels-tony-abbott-creepy-over-his-response-to-nauru-spying-allegations-20150605-ghhehb.html |url-status=live}} He also said that "What Sarah Hanson-Young is about is publicity. She loves the camera and she loves to see her own name in the paper. That's the start and finish of Sarah Hanson-Young."{{cite news |last=Vickery |first= Kara |date=25 August 2015 |title=Sarah Hanson-Young only interested in publicity, says Immigration Minister Peter Dutton |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/sarah-hansonyoung-only-interested-in-publicity-says-immigration-minister-peter-dutton/news-story/1e638b84b09978cd833f705980912c4e |work=Herald Sun |access-date=4 June 2017 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022185132/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/sarah-hansonyoung-only-interested-in-publicity-says-immigration-minister-peter-dutton/news-story/1e638b84b09978cd833f705980912c4e?nk=6fd6011c379439e9a1c88935fee6bf19-1634928692 |url-status=live}} Hanson-Young responded that "Peter Dutton can attack and insult me as much as he likes, but nothing will change the fact that my work has revealed systemic child abuse and the rape of young women on Nauru under his watch." The spying claims were later confirmed by the Immigration Department and Wilson Security who carried out the spying operation.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/immigration-department-confirms-sarah-hansonyoung-was-spied-on-20150609-ghk0kr.html |title=Immigration Department confirms Sarah Hanson-Young was spied on |work=The Age |date=10 June 2015 |access-date=9 June 2015 |archive-date=9 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609190554/http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/immigration-department-confirms-sarah-hansonyoung-was-spied-on-20150609-ghk0kr.html |url-status=live}}

In June 2015, an au pair who was detained at Brisbane Airport made a phone call and had her tourist visa reinstated. In November, in a second case, Dutton granted a visa to another au pair, despite his department warning him that she was at risk of breaching her work conditions on her tourist visa. Dutton indicated that he knew neither tourist. In August 2018, Roman Quaedvlieg indicated that he had personal knowledge of one of the cases, and was seeking to correct Hansard if it did not match his knowledge.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Lisa |title=Former border force head 'has knowledge' of Dutton's au pair visa decision |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/22/former-border-force-head-roman-quaedvlieg-has-knowledge-of-duttons-au-pair-visa-decision |access-date=28 August 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=22 August 2018 |archive-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828134347/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/22/former-border-force-head-roman-quaedvlieg-has-knowledge-of-duttons-au-pair-visa-decision |url-status=live}} A third au pair was granted a visa due to lobbying by AFL chief Gillon McLachlan; she was due to stay with his relative Callum Maclachlan. Dutton's department again warned him there were indications that she was intending to work for Callum's family.{{cite news |title=Dutton prevented au pair's deportation after lobbying from AFL boss McLachlan |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/dutton-released-au-pair-after-lobbying-from-afl-boss-mclachlan/10172788 |access-date=28 August 2018 |publisher=ABC News |date=28 August 2018 |archive-date=28 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828051526/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/dutton-released-au-pair-after-lobbying-from-afl-boss-mclachlan/10172788 |url-status=live}} A Senate inquiry into two of the cases published a report on 11 September 2018.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Lisa |title=Senate inquiry to investigate Peter Dutton's au pair visa decision |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/23/labor-to-refer-peter-duttons-au-pair-visa-decision-to-senate-inquiry |access-date=29 August 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=23 August 2018 |archive-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175311/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/23/labor-to-refer-peter-duttons-au-pair-visa-decision-to-senate-inquiry |url-status=live}} It recommended "that the Senate consider censuring the Minister for Home Affairs (the Hon Peter Dutton MP) ... for failing to observe fairness in making official decisions as required by the Statement of Ministerial Standards."{{Cite web |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/AuPairs/Report/b01 |title=Exercise of Ministerial Powers, with Respect to the VISA Status of Au Pairs, and Related Matters – Report – Recommendations |website=Parliament of Australia|language=en-AU |access-date=1 January 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101021213/https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/AuPairs/Report/b01 |url-status=live}}

On 11 September 2015, Dutton was overheard on an open microphone, before a community meeting on Syrian refugees, joking about rising sea levels in the Pacific Islands, saying: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're about to have water lapping at your door".{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-11/dutton-overheard-joking-about-sea-levels-in-pacific-islands/6768324 |title=Peter Dutton overheard joking about rising sea levels in Pacific Island nations |publisher=ABC News |date=11 September 2015 |access-date=11 September 2015 |archive-date=11 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911170259/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-11/dutton-overheard-joking-about-sea-levels-in-pacific-islands/6768324 |url-status=live}} Dutton apologised, after initially refusing to, as the statement was made in a private conversation.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-13/dutton-apologises-for-vulgar-climate-change-joke/6771468 |title=Immigration Minister Peter Dutton apologises for 'vulgar' climate change joke |publisher=ABC News |date=13 September 2015 |access-date=8 May 2017 |archive-date=7 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807033329/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-13/dutton-apologises-for-vulgar-climate-change-joke/6771468 |url-status=live}} The Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands, Tony deBrum, responded by writing: "insensitivity knows no bounds in the big polluting island down [south]" and the "Next time waves are battering my home [and] my grandkids are scared, I'll ask Peter Dutton to come over, and we'll see if he is still laughing".{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/waves-are-battering-my-home-marshall-islands-foreign-minister-slams-peter-dutton-after-climate-joke-20150911-gjkx4j.html |title='Waves are battering my home': Marshall Islands Foreign Minister slams Peter Dutton after climate joke |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=12 September 2015 |access-date=20 February 2020 |archive-date=24 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224052848/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/waves-are-battering-my-home-marshall-islands-foreign-minister-slams-peter-dutton-after-climate-joke-20150911-gjkx4j.html |url-status=live}}

On 15 April 2017, shots were fired by the Papua New Guinea defence force into the Manus Island Detention Centre. Dutton responded saying "There was difficulty, as I understand it, in the community. There was an alleged incident where three asylum seekers were alleged to be leading a local five-year old boy back toward the facility and there was a lot of angst around that, if you like, within the local PNG community." "I think there was concern about why the boy was being led or for what purpose he was being led away back into the regional processing centre. So I think it's fair to say that the mood had elevated quite quickly. I think some of the local residents were quite angry about this particular incident and another alleged sexual assault."{{Cite web |url =http://www.minister.border.gov.au/peterdutton/Pages/interview-with-david-speers-speers-tonight-sky-news.aspx |title=Interview with David Speers, Speers Tonight, Sky News |website=The Hon Peter Dutton MP: Minister for Immigration and Border Protection |access-date=8 May 2017 |archive-date=13 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613020652/http://www.minister.border.gov.au/peterdutton/Pages/interview-with-david-speers-speers-tonight-sky-news.aspx |url-status=live}} The regional police commander on Manus Island said a young boy who was ten, not five, had gone to the centre two weeks earlier to ask for food. He said "It's a total separate incident altogether".{{cite news |last=Davidson |first=Helen |date=21 April 2017 |title=PNG police flatly reject Peter Dutton's account of Manus shooting |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/21/png-police-reject-peter-dutton-account-manus-shooting |work=The Guardian |access-date=8 May 2017 |archive-date=7 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507031157/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/21/png-police-reject-peter-dutton-account-manus-shooting |url-status=live}} The Greens senator Nick McKim said Dutton had lied. "This has disturbing echoes of the children overboard affair lies."

On 31 October 2017, the Papuan government closed down the Manus Island regional processing centre. However, 600 men residing in the processing centre refused to be moved to alternative accommodation in the town of Lorengau and staged a protest. Dutton defended the closure of the processing centre and said that the Papuan authorities had given notice of the camp's impending closure in May 2017. He also rejected Australian Greens Senator Nick McKim's report that there was no safe alternative accommodation available and claimed McKim was causing trouble.{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Liam |title=Manus Island detention centre to permanently close today, 600 men refusing to leave |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-31/manus-island-detention-centre-to-close-at-5pm-today/9102768 |access-date=20 July 2018 |publisher=ABC News |date=31 October 2017 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718202353/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-31/manus-island-detention-centre-to-close-at-5pm-today/9102768 |url-status=live}} Following a prolonged standoff with Papuan security forces, the remaining men were evacuated, many forcibly, to new accommodation.{{cite news |last1=Baxendale |first1=Rachel |title=Manus Island: last of asylum seekers removed from detention centre |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/pm-blames-kevin-rudd-for-manus-asylum-seeker-standoff/news-story/50c63065e489390b6f38bec8a8588294 |access-date=30 November 2017 |work=The Australian }} Arrangements have been made to resettle an unspecified number of the asylum seekers in the United States. The others will be moved to either a different part of Papua New Guinea or a different country.{{cite news |title=Why is the Manus detention centre being closed? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/manus-detention-centre-closed-171024212852806.html |access-date=20 July 2018 |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=30 October 2017 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720020530/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/manus-detention-centre-closed-171024212852806.html |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |last1=Meixler |first1=Eli |title=What to Know About the Asylum Seeker Standoff on Manus Island |url=https://time.com/5006776/manus-island-asylum-seekers-australia/ |access-date=20 July 2018 |magazine=Time |date=6 November 2017 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719113456/http://time.com/5006776/manus-island-asylum-seekers-australia/ |url-status=live}}

In mid-November 2017, Dutton rejected an offer by the newly-elected New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to resettle 150 asylum seekers from the Manus Island detention centre in New Zealand and warned that it would have repercussions for the two countries' bilateral relations. He also claimed that New Zealand's offer would encourage people smugglers. Dutton also criticised a New Zealand offer to provide $3 million for services for asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru as a "waste of money" that could be spent elsewhere, such as displaced people in Indonesia. In addition, Dutton criticised Australia's Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's call for Australia to accept the New Zealand offer as an attempt to appease the Labor Left with "cheap political stunts and mealy-mouthed words".{{cite news |last1=Belot |first1=Henry |title=Malcolm Turnbull not accepting Jacinda Ardern's offer to resettle asylum seekers in NZ 'at this time' |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-05/turnbull-wont-accept-nz-offer-to-resettle-refugees-at-this-time/9120028 |access-date=19 July 2018 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=6 November 2017 |archive-date=8 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408152729/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-05/turnbull-wont-accept-nz-offer-to-resettle-refugees-at-this-time/9120028 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Carp |first1=Paul |last2=Roy |first2=Eleanor Ainge |title=New Zealand seeks deal with Australia to resettle Manus and Nauru refugees |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/17/new-zealand-and-png-could-do-deal-on-refugees-peter-dutton-says |access-date=19 July 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=17 November 2017 |archive-date=8 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408152730/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/17/new-zealand-and-png-could-do-deal-on-refugees-peter-dutton-says |url-status=live}}

File:Malcolm Turnbull announces home affairs portfolio 2017.jpg

On 20 December 2017, Dutton was appointed the Minister for Home Affairs with responsibilities of overseeing the Department of Home Affairs which was established on 20 December 2017 by Administrative Arrangement Order. The Home Affairs portfolio is a major re-arrangement of national security, law enforcement, emergency management, transport security, border control, and immigration functions.

{{main|South African farm attacks#Australia}}

In March 2018, Dutton made calls to treat white South African farmers as refugees, stating that "they need help from a civilised country".{{cite news |last1=Gribbin |first1=Caitlyn |last2=Sara |first2=Sally |title=Peter Dutton wants Australia to help white South African farmers who he says are facing violence, land seizures |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/dutton-wants-australia-to-help-white-south-african-farmers/9550050 |access-date=20 July 2018 |publisher=ABC News |date=15 March 2018 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710191503/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-15/dutton-wants-australia-to-help-white-south-african-farmers/9550050 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=McCulloch |first1=Daniel |title=Peter Dutton looks to help 'persecuted' white South African farmers |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/peter-dutton-looks-to-help-persecuted-white-south-african-farmers-20180314-p4z4el.html |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 March 2018 |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626192409/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/peter-dutton-looks-to-help-persecuted-white-south-african-farmers-20180314-p4z4el.html |url-status=live}} However, his offer was rejected by Afrikaner rights organisation AfriForum, which stated that the future of Afrikaners was in Africa, as well as by the survivalist group the Suidlanders, which took credit for bringing the issue of a purported "white genocide" to international attention and for Dutton's decision,{{cite news |last1=Borman |first1=Jan |title=SA conservative group takes credit for increased 'white genocide' awareness |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/sa-conservative-group-takes-credit-for-increased-white-genocide-awareness-20180323 |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=News24 |date=23 March 2018 |archive-date=24 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324102528/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/sa-conservative-group-takes-credit-for-increased-white-genocide-awareness-20180323 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Gedye |first1=Lloyd |title=White genocide: How the big lie spread to the US and beyond |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-03-23-00-radical-right-plugs-swart-gevaar |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=Mail & Guardian |date=23 March 2018 |archive-date=5 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405033326/https://mg.co.za/article/2018-03-23-00-radical-right-plugs-swart-gevaar/ |url-status=live}} and was met with "regret" by the South African foreign ministry.{{cite news |last1=Killalea |first1=Debra |title=South Africa: Peter Dutton's 'white farmer' comments anger Pretoria |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/world-economy/south-africa-peter-duttons-white-farmer-comments-anger-pretoria/news-story/a6a48505f72dabf517e961efa58242be |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=news.com.au |date=16 March 2018 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718172419/https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/world-economy/south-africa-peter-duttons-white-farmer-comments-anger-pretoria/news-story/a6a48505f72dabf517e961efa58242be |url-status=live}} The Australian High Commissioner was subsequently summoned by the South African foreign ministry, which expressed its offence at Dutton's statements, and demanded a "full retraction".{{cite news |last1=Mtyala |first1=Quinton |title=Dirco demands #PeterDutton retract 'persecuted' white farmer comments |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/dirco-demands-peterdutton-retract-persecuted-white-farmer-comments-13841035 |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=Independent Online |date=15 March 2018 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716224155/https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/dirco-demands-peterdutton-retract-persecuted-white-farmer-comments-13841035 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Mbaya |first1=Ndivhuwo |title=White farmers: Peter Dutton must retract remarks – DIRCO |url=http://politicsweb.co.za/politics/white-farmers-peter-dutton-must-retract-remarks--d |website=politicsweb |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716224038/http://politicsweb.co.za/politics/white-farmers-peter-dutton-must-retract-remarks--d |url-status=live}}

His proposal got support from some of his party's backbenchers and Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm{{cite news |last1=Norman |first1=Jane |title=Peter Dutton's white South African farmers resettlement gaining momentum |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-16/persecuted-white-south-african-farmers-resettlement-gaining-mom/9556098 |access-date=20 July 2018 |publisher=ABC News |date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720152436/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-16/persecuted-white-south-african-farmers-resettlement-gaining-mom/9556098 |url-status=live}} with Leyonhjelm later clarifying that he thought that South African farmers should be admitted under existing visa programmes, and could not be regarded as refugees.{{cite news |last1=Bornman |first1=Jan |title=SA would need to deteriorate 'markedly' for white farmers to get refugee status – Australian senator |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/sa-would-need-to-deteriorate-markedly-for-white-farmers-to-get-refugee-status-australian-senator-20180320 |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=News24 |date=20 March 2018 |archive-date=17 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717012903/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/sa-would-need-to-deteriorate-markedly-for-white-farmers-to-get-refugee-status-australian-senator-20180320 |url-status=live}} National Party of Australia MP Andrew Broad warned that the mass migration of South African farmers would result in food shortages in South Africa.{{cite news |last1=Barbour |first1=Lucy |title=South Africa could face food shortage if white farmers migrate to Australia, Federal MP Andrew Broad warns |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-22/nationals-mp-fears-food-shortages-in-south-africa/9573886 |access-date=20 July 2018 |publisher=ABC News |date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=13 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713175309/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-22/nationals-mp-fears-food-shortages-in-south-africa/9573886 |url-status=live}} Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema encouraged white farmers to take up Dutton's offer.{{cite news |title=Racists must go to Australia, says Malema |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/racists-must-go-to-australia-says-malema-20180321 |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=News24 |date=21 March 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720165721/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/racists-must-go-to-australia-says-malema-20180321 |url-status=live}} After initially leaving the door open to changes, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop subsequently ruled out any special deals for white South African farmers, emphasising the non-discriminatory nature of Australia's humanitarian visa programme.{{cite news |last1=Tillett |first1=Andrew |title=Julie Bishop rules out special visa deal for South African farmers |url=http://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/julie-bishop-rules-out-special-visa-deal-for-south-african-farmers-20180318-h0xmhy |access-date=20 July 2018 |newspaper=The Australian Financial Review |date=18 March 2018 |archive-date=28 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628181231/https://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/julie-bishop-rules-out-special-visa-deal-for-south-african-farmers-20180318-h0xmhy |url-status=live}} In a subsequent interview, Dutton vowed to push forward with his plans, saying that his critics were "dead to me".{{cite news |title='Critics are dead to me' – Aus minister Dutton pushes ahead with white SA farmer plan |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/australian-minister-dutton-pushes-ahead-with-white-sa-farmer-plan-says-critics-are-dead-to-me-20180322 |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=News24 |date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720165652/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/australian-minister-dutton-pushes-ahead-with-white-sa-farmer-plan-says-critics-are-dead-to-me-20180322 |url-status=live}}

In April 2018, it emerged that Dutton's department had previously blocked asylum applications by a white farmer, and another white South African woman, with the decisions upheld by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.{{cite news |last1=Knaus |first1=Christopher |last2=Davidson |first2=Helen |title=Peter Dutton's department blocked white South African farmer's asylum bid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/14/peter-duttons-department-blocked-white-south-african-farmers-asylum-bid |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=13 April 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623030840/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/14/peter-duttons-department-blocked-white-south-african-farmers-asylum-bid |url-status=live}}

As both Immigration Minister and Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton has defended an amendment to the Migration Act 1958 that facilitates the denial or cancellation of Australian visas for non-citizens on "character" grounds. This stringent "character test" also affects non-citizens who have lived most of their lives in Australia or who have families living in the country.{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|ma1958118|Migration Act 1958|501}} Refusal or cancellation of visa on character grounds. New Zealand nationals living in Australia were disproportionately affected by this "character test" with over 1,300 New Zealanders having been deported from Australia in the period between January 2015 and July 2018.{{cite news |title=Don't Call Australia Home! |url=http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/don%E2%80%99t-call-australia-home!/10005152 |access-date=20 July 2018 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=17 July 2018 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718101243/http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/don%E2%80%99t-call-australia-home!/10005152 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=O'Regan |first1=Sylvia Varnham |title=Why New Zealand Is Furious About Australia's Deportation Policy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/world/asia/new-zealand-australia-deportations.html |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=3 July 2018 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719173651/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/world/asia/new-zealand-australia-deportations.html |url-status=live}} According to a Home Affairs Department report, 620 New Zealanders had their visas cancelled on character grounds in 2017 alone.{{cite web |title=Key visa cancellation statistics |url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/reports-publications/research-statistics/statistics/key-cancellation-statistics |publisher=Department of Home Affairs |access-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720135735/https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/reports-publications/research-statistics/statistics/key-cancellation-statistics |archive-date=20 July 2018 |url-status=dead}}

In July 2017, Dutton's Department of Immigration and Border Protection introduced a special Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa to provide a pathway for New Zealanders holding a Special Category Visa to acquire Australian citizenship. The visa requires NZ nationals to have held a Special Category Visa for five years and to maintain an annual income of $53,900. Between 60,000 and 80,000 New Zealanders residing in Australia are eligible for the Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa. By February 2018, 1,512 skilled independent visas had been issued by late February 2018 with another 7,500 visas still being processed.{{cite news |last1=Goethe-Snape |first1=Jackson |title=Government's immigration tweak sees overseas Asians out, integrated Kiwis in |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-13/how-dutton-slowed-immigration/9646602 |access-date=21 July 2018 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=13 April 2018 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718122507/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-13/how-dutton-slowed-immigration/9646602 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Karp |first1=Paul |title=Visa pathway for New Zealanders resident in Australia will cut migrant intake |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/13/visa-pathway-for-new-zealanders-resident-in-australia-will-cut-migrant-intake |access-date=21 July 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=13 April 1018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720140001/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/13/visa-pathway-for-new-zealanders-resident-in-australia-will-cut-migrant-intake |url-status=live}} The Skilled Independent subclass 189 visa was criticised by Australian Greens Senator Nick McKim as a stealth means of favouring "English-speaking, white and wealthy" migrants.

In February 2018, Dutton used his discretionary powers as Minister of Home Affairs to deport New Zealander Caleb Maraku on the grounds that he breached the "character test" provision of the Migration Act 1958. Maraku had been sentenced to 12 months probation for committing a one punch attack on another youth in Queensland's Gold Coast in November 2017. Maraku's perceived lenient sentencing and insensitive behaviour following his sentence had drawn substantial media and public attention, including a 50,000 strong petition calling for his deportation.{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Natalie |title=Coward-punch Kiwi Caleb Maraku to be deported back to New Zealand |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/coward-punch-kiwi-caleb-maraku-to-be-deported-back-to-new-zealand/MNMWR2OX7363DI24G7G7ZJFQGI/ |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=19 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601073019/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/coward-punch-kiwi-caleb-maraku-to-be-deported-back-to-new-zealand/MNMWR2OX7363DI24G7G7ZJFQGI/ |archive-date=1 June 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Clarke |first1=Harry |title='F---ing dogs': Inside the arrest of one-punch attacker Caleb Maraku |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/caleb-maraku-one-punch-attacker-facing-deportation/8d73380a-5cca-4eaa-8bab-7c866ad888a1 |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=Nine News |publisher=Nine Entertainment |date=19 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308142759/https://www.9news.com.au/national/caleb-maraku-one-punch-attacker-facing-deportation/8d73380a-5cca-4eaa-8bab-7c866ad888a1 |archive-date=8 March 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Florence |title=One-punch deportee back to Waikato |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/101559623/onepunch-deportee-back-to-waikato |access-date=14 January 2022 |work=Stuff |date=22 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110220145/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/101559623/onepunch-deportee-back-to-waikato |archive-date=10 November 2020|url-status=live}} In response to Maraku's case, Dutton stated: {{Quote|It's no different to being invited into somebody's home - you don't start assaulting the residents of that house, you don't start assaulting Australian citizens and if you do you are shown the door.}}

In early July 2018, Dutton ordered the deportation of controversial New Zealand Baptist Pastor Logan Robertson, who had disrupted services at two mosques in Kuraby and Darra in Brisbane. Dutton approved Robertson's visa cancellation on the grounds that he had violated the conditions of his visa, stating that "we have a wonderful tradition in our country of freedom of speech, but we're not going to tolerate people going to a place of worship and harassing others".{{cite news |last1=Crockford |first1=Toby |title=NZ pastor to be deported from Australia after public nuisance charges |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/105319868/nz-pastor-to-be-deported-from-australia-after-public-nuisance-charges |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=7 July 2018 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729081539/https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/105319868/nz-pastor-to-be-deported-from-australia-after-public-nuisance-charges |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Small |first1=Zane |title=Deported NZ pastor Logan Robertson shows no remorse for harassing 'sissy' Muslims |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/07/deported-nz-pastor-logan-robertson-shows-no-remorse-for-harassing-sissy-muslims.html |access-date=29 July 2018 |publisher=Newshub |date=27 July 2018 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729021925/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2018/07/deported-nz-pastor-logan-robertson-shows-no-remorse-for-harassing-sissy-muslims.html |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |title=Deported NZ pastor Logan Robertson doesn't regret harassing Muslims |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12097253 |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=29 July 2018 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729061850/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12097253 |url-status=live}} Robertson had earlier drawn controversy in New Zealand for his homophobic remarks and opposition to same-sex marriage.{{cite news |last1=Bath |first1=Brooke |title=Auckland pastor goes on rant, says gay people should be shot |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/95818245/auckland-pastor-goes-on-antigay-rant?rm=m |access-date=29 July 2018 |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=15 August 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729111741/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/95818245/auckland-pastor-goes-on-antigay-rant?rm=m |url-status=live}}

In mid-July 2018, Dutton's immigration "character test" became the subject of a controversial Australian Broadcasting Corporation documentary, entitled "Don't Call Australia Home", focusing on New Zealanders who had been deported from Australia. In response, Dutton issued a tweet defending his deportation policy and claiming that deporting 184 "bikies" saved Australia A$116 million.{{cite news |last1=Khalil |first1=Shireen |title='Program did not consider the impact on victims': ABC slammed by MP over NZ deportation piece |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/program-did-not-consider-the-impact-on-victims-abc-slammed-by-mp-over-nz-deportation-piece/news-story/c34c0bc1637c6b38fea9c28f1567d12c |access-date=19 July 2018 |work=news.com.au |date=19 July 2018 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719031905/https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/program-did-not-consider-the-impact-on-victims-abc-slammed-by-mp-over-nz-deportation-piece/news-story/c34c0bc1637c6b38fea9c28f1567d12c |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Khalil |first1=Shireen |title='No consideration for victims': ABC slammed over NZ deportation programme |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12091803 |access-date=19 July 2018 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=19 July 2018 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719143428/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12091803 |url-status=live}} In response, the New Zealand Minister of Justice Andrew Little, who also appeared in the documentary, criticised Australia's deportation laws for lacking "humanitarian ideals."{{cite news |title=Justice Minister Andrew Little's tough words for Australia |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/07/andrew-little-s-tough-words-for-australia.html |access-date=19 July 2018 |publisher=Newshub |date=19 July 2018 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719143219/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/07/andrew-little-s-tough-words-for-australia.html |url-status=dead}} The documentary's release also coincided with the release of a 17-year-old New Zealand youth from an Australian detention centre, which had caused friction between the two governments.{{cite news |last1=Bracewell-Worrall |first1=Anna |title=Kiwi minor released from Australian adults' detention centre |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/07/kiwi-minor-released-from-australian-adults-detention-centre.html |access-date=19 July 2018 |publisher=Newshub |date=17 July 2018 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719143311/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/07/kiwi-minor-released-from-australian-adults-detention-centre.html |url-status=dead}} In response, Dutton defended his government's policy of deporting non-citizen criminals and chastised New Zealand for not contributing enough to assist Australian naval patrols intercepting the "people smugglers."{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Lucy |title=Peter Dutton vows to continue deportations following criticism from Andrew Little |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12092448 |access-date=20 July 2018 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=20 July 2018 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720171259/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12092448 |url-status=live}}

In mid-July 2019, Dutton defended Australia's right to deport criminal non-citizens in response to concerns raised by the visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, stating: {{quote|We need to stand up for Australians. And the New Zealand prime minister is rightly doing that for her people. But where we've got Australian citizens who are falling victim in certain circumstances where people are sexually offending against children, for example, we've had a big push to try to deport those paedophiles.{{cite news |title=Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton dismisses Jacinda Ardern's demands to stop deporting New Zealanders |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/394774/australian-home-affairs-minister-peter-dutton-dismisses-jacinda-ardern-s-demands-to-stop-deporting-new-zealanders |access-date=13 September 2019 |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=19 July 2018 |archive-date=2 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102131332/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/394774/australian-home-affairs-minister-peter-dutton-dismisses-jacinda-ardern-s-demands-to-stop-deporting-new-zealanders |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Doran |first1=Matthew |last2=Macmillan |first2=Jade |title=Peter Dutton dismisses Jacinda Ardern's demands for Australia to stop deporting New Zealanders |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-19/dutton-dismisses-ardern-demands-to-stop-deporting-new-zealanders/11324382 |access-date=13 September 2019 |publisher=ABC News |date=19 July 2019 |archive-date=17 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917195248/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-19/dutton-dismisses-ardern-demands-to-stop-deporting-new-zealanders/11324382 |url-status=live}}}} In response, Patrick Keyzer and Dave Martin of La Trobe University criticised Dutton's pedophilia remarks as misleading and contended that most deportees from Australia had spent most of their lives in Australia and had little ties to New Zealand.{{cite web |last1=Keyzer |first1=Patrick |last2=Martin |first2=Dave |title=No, Peter Dutton. Most deported Kiwis aren't paedophiles and you're hurting our relationship with NZ |url=https://theconversation.com/no-peter-dutton-most-deported-kiwis-arent-paedophiles-and-youre-hurting-our-relationship-with-nz-120655 |publisher=The Conversation |access-date=13 September 2019 |date=24 July 2019 |archive-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729103250/http://theconversation.com/no-peter-dutton-most-deported-kiwis-arent-paedophiles-and-youre-hurting-our-relationship-with-nz-120655 |url-status=live}}

In October and November 2019, Dutton expressed his views on protesters and police response. He stated that when protesters break the law "There needs to be mandatory or minimum sentences imposed... A community expectation is that these people are heavily fined or jailed." He also agreed with an on-air statement made by conservative 2GB radio presenter Ray Hadley that protesters should not receive social security payments. Leader of the Australian Greens Richard Di Natale responded by saying that "Peter Dutton doesn't know what living in a democracy means" and claimed that he's "starting to sound more like a dictator than he is an elected politician. Because somebody says something that he doesn't like, that he doesn't support, he's saying we're going to strip away income support."{{Cite news |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/protests/peter-dutton-accused-of-dictator-rhetoric-over-call-for-mandatory-sentences-for-climate-protesters |title=Peter Dutton accused of 'dictator' rhetoric over call for mandatory sentences for climate protesters |website=SBS News|language=en |access-date=1 January 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101033020/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/protests/peter-dutton-accused-of-dictator-rhetoric-over-call-for-mandatory-sentences-for-climate-protesters |url-status=live}}

In November 2019, Dutton said that the States should make protesters pay for the cost of police response to demonstrations.{{Cite news |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/price-to-pay-peter-dutton-wants-activists-to-cover-the-cost-of-police-response-to-protests |title='Price to pay': Peter Dutton wants activists to cover the cost of police response to protests |website=SBS News|language=en |access-date=1 January 2020 |archive-date=1 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101033018/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/price-to-pay-peter-dutton-wants-activists-to-cover-the-cost-of-police-response-to-protests |url-status=live}} He said of protesters: "For many of them they don't even believe in democracy... These people are completely against our way of life. These people can protest peacefully, as many people do, but the disruption that they seek to cause, the disharmony that they seek to sow within our society is unacceptable."

In December 2019, Dutton announced that airport security measures were to be increased to detect, deter and respond to potential threats to aviation safety. Measures include greater use of dogs and the deployment of extra protective services personnel armed with MK18 short-barreled rifles. Dutton appeared in a video alongside police personnel to announce the policy, sparking criticism of the potential use of police for political purposes.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/17/peter-dutton-appears-with-federal-police-in-political-video-on-airport-security |title=Labor issues please explain after Peter Dutton appears with AFP in political ad on airport security |last=Karp |first=Paul |date=16 December 2019|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-date=1 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101025749/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/17/peter-dutton-appears-with-federal-police-in-political-video-on-airport-security |url-status=live}} Earlier in March 2019, the Australian Federal Police Association had claimed that the AFP should be removed from the Department of Home Affairs to preserve its integrity and its ability to carry out investigations without government influence. Association president Angela Smith described it as "an embarrassing situation... We look the least independent police force in Australia, surely the other police forces are laughing at us."{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/15/federal-police-must-split-from-dutton-ministry-to-save-integrity-says-union |title=Federal police must split from Dutton ministry to save integrity, says union |last=Knaus |first=Christopher |date=14 March 2019|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=1 January 2020|archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217111439/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/15/federal-police-must-split-from-dutton-ministry-to-save-integrity-says-union |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Liberal Party of Australia leadership spills, 2018}}

On 21 August 2018, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called a snap ballot of the leadership of the Liberal Party following several days of feverish leadership speculation, of which Dutton was at the centre.{{cite web |url=https://www.9news.com.au/2018/08/20/04/28/peter-dutton-malcolm-turnbull-national-energy-guarantee-leadership-challenge |title=Peter Dutton leadership challenge speculation grows |date=20 August 2018|work=9 News |access-date=21 August 2018 |archive-date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821063529/https://www.9news.com.au/2018/08/20/04/28/peter-dutton-malcolm-turnbull-national-energy-guarantee-leadership-challenge |url-status=live}} Dutton responded to Turnbull's ballot call by formally challenging for the leadership of the party and won 35 of 83 votes available, 7 short of a majority.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/aug/21/liberal-leadership-dutton-turnbull-energy |title=Dutton resigns after Turnbull survives Liberal leadership spill 48-35 – politics live |first1=Amy |last1=Remeikis |first2=Gareth |last2=Hutchens |first3=Katharine |last3=Murphy |first4=Christopher |last4=Knaus |date=21 August 2018 |access-date=21 August 2018|work=The Guardian |archive-date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821002922/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/aug/21/liberal-leadership-dutton-turnbull-energy |url-status=live}} Dutton then resigned from the Ministry despite being offered by Turnbull to retain his position of Minister for Home Affairs, and the media speculated that Dutton and his conservative backers in the party were likely to challenge for the leadership again in the near future.{{cite web |url=https://www.afr.com/news/peter-duttons-backers-vow-its-not-over-for-malcolm-turnbull-20180820-h148mw |title=Peter Dutton's backers vow it's not over for Malcolm Turnbull|work=Australian Financial Review |date=21 August 2018 |first=Phil |last=Coorey |access-date=21 August 2018 |archive-date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821050926/https://www.afr.com/news/peter-duttons-backers-vow-its-not-over-for-malcolm-turnbull-20180820-h148mw |url-status=live}}

On 22 August 2018, Dutton described what his policies would be if he were to be elected leader of the Coalition. These included scrapping the GST on electricity, which Scott Morrison described as "an absolute budget blower".{{cite news |title=Senior ministers stand by Turnbull as Dutton plotters sharpen knives |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-22/malcolm-turnbull-leadership-crisis-deepens/10149440 |access-date=22 August 2018 |work=ABC News |date=22 August 2018 |language=en-AU}} He also floated the idea of having a royal commission into electricity companies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/aug/22/malcolm-turnbull-fights-to-hold-cabinet-together-as-dutton-hits-airwaves-politics-live?page=with:block-5b7cb03de4b0fbb2e0993632#block-5b7cb03de4b0fbb2e0993632|title=Labor releases legal advice saying Dutton ineligible as Joyce calls for John Howard to step in – as it happened|first=Christopher|last=Knaus|work=the Guardian |date=22 August 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/peter-duttons-75b-gst-power-pledge-a-budget-blower-scomo-20180822-h14anm|title=Peter Dutton's $7.5b GST power pledge a 'budget blower': ScoMo|date=21 August 2018|newspaper=Australian Financial Review}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/22/peter-dutton-says-he-will-challenge-malcolm-turnbull-again-if-he-can-win|title=Peter Dutton says he will challenge Malcolm Turnbull again, if he can win|first=Katharine|last=Murphy|date=22 August 2018|newspaper=The Guardian}} Three days later, Dutton called for another leadership spill, and Malcolm Turnbull tendered his resignation to the Governor-General. Dutton was defeated by Treasurer and Acting Home Affairs Minister Scott Morrison by 45 votes to 40. Doubts surrounding Dutton's eligibility to be elected to parliament emerged on the grounds of section 44(v) of the Australian Constitution, as the family trust owned by Dutton operated a child care centre that received over $5.6 million in funding from the Commonwealth government, in a situation similar to Bob Day's case. Although Dutton had received legal advice stating that he was not in breach of section 44(v), Labor had received contrary advice; at Turnbull's request, the Attorney-General referred the matter to the Solicitor-General.{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-refers-dutton-s-eligibility-to-solicitor-general-20180822-p4zyy6.html |title=Government refers Dutton's eligibility to Solicitor-General |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=22 August 2018 |last1=Loussikian |first1=Kylar |last2=McCauley |first2=Dana |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823042140/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-refers-dutton-s-eligibility-to-solicitor-general-20180822-p4zyy6.html |url-status=live}}

On 23 August 2018, Labor attempted to move a motion to refer Dutton's eligibility as an MP to the High Court, in a similar manner to referrals made during the recent parliamentary citizenship crisis. The motion failed by 69 votes to 68.{{cite news |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-dutton-court-check-push-defeated |title=Labor's Dutton court check push defeated |date=23 August 2018|agency=Australian Associated Press |access-date=23 August 2018|work=SBS News |archive-date=23 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823023432/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-s-dutton-court-check-push-defeated |url-status=live}} On 24 August, the Solicitor-General advised that in terms of section 44(v) Dutton was "not incapable" of sitting as an MP, although he added that he had been provided with limited factual information and that, owing to differences of judicial opinion in earlier decisions of the High Court on section 44(v), Dutton's legal position could not be entirely clear without a referral to the High Court.{{cite news |title=Solicitor-General suggests Peter Dutton can stay in Parliament amid eligibility cloud |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-24/dutton-legal-advice-clears-path-for-pm-bid/10159702 |access-date=26 August 2018 |publisher=ABC News |date=24 August 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826003036/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-24/dutton-legal-advice-clears-path-for-pm-bid/10159702 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://auspublaw.org/2018/09/section-44-and-the-competing-arguments-for-disqualification-and-exoneration-of-peter-dutton |last=Twomey |first=Anne|author-link=Anne Twomey (academic) |title=Section 44 and the Competing Arguments for Disqualification and Exoneration of Peter Dutton |website=AUSPUBLAW |date=5 September 2018 |access-date=5 September 2018 |archive-date=5 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065345/https://auspublaw.org/2018/09/section-44-and-the-competing-arguments-for-disqualification-and-exoneration-of-peter-dutton |url-status=live}} Dutton was reappointed to his former Home Affairs portfolio by Scott Morrison in the Morrison Ministry; however, responsibility for Immigration was stripped from the role and was assigned to David Coleman.{{cite news |title=Scott Morrison announces new ministry |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-26/scott-morrison-announces-new-cabinet-after-julie-bishop-quits/10166300 |access-date=26 August 2018 |publisher=ABC News |date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826125929/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-26/scott-morrison-announces-new-cabinet-after-julie-bishop-quits/10166300 |url-status=live}}

Dutton was re-elected at the 2019 election.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-18/election-result-sees-peter-dutton-win-dickson/11107396 |title=Election 2019 result sees Peter Dutton victory amid Labor wipe-out in Queensland |work=ABC |author=Wiggins, Nick |date=19 May 2019 |access-date=4 June 2019 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603231051/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-18/election-result-sees-peter-dutton-win-dickson/11107396 |url-status=live}} The political think tank GetUp! identified Dutton as "Australia's most unwanted hard-right politician" after surveying more than "30,000 members".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/17/peter-dutton-tops-getups-hard-right-hit-list-for-federal-election |title=Peter Dutton tops GetUp's 'hard right' hit list for federal election |work=The Guardian |author=Remeikis, Amy |date=17 January 2019 |access-date=4 June 2019 |archive-date=4 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604021712/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/17/peter-dutton-tops-getups-hard-right-hit-list-for-federal-election |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/getup-survey-identifies-peter-dutton-as-australias-most-unwanted-hardright-politician/news-story/5fe6780fcf6e67df3fc83ca163d1ed0b |title=GetUp survey identifies Peter Dutton as Australia's most unwanted hard-right politician |date=17 January 2019 |first1=Charis |last1=Chang |first2=Shannon |last2=Molly |newspaper=News.com.au |access-date=3 June 2019 |archive-date=3 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603123557/https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/getup-survey-identifies-peter-dutton-as-australias-most-unwanted-hardright-politician/news-story/5fe6780fcf6e67df3fc83ca163d1ed0b |url-status=live}} GetUp! mounted a campaign in an attempt to defeat Dutton in Dickson.{{cite news |author=Northingham |first=Brad |date=21 May 2019 |title=GetUp to get what's coming, says Peter Dutton |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/getup-to-get-whats-coming-says-peter-dutton/news-story/1ed88e2e07f60ce5674019c2c8f3f2fa |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405103113/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/getup-to-get-whats-coming-says-peter-dutton/news-story/1ed88e2e07f60ce5674019c2c8f3f2fa |archive-date=5 April 2023 |access-date=4 June 2019 |work=The Australian}} In response, Dutton said that GetUp! was "deceptive", "undemocratic" and "unrepresentative", and that he would back "parliamentary processes to bring the activist group to heel". GetUp! has defended the effectiveness of its campaigning in Dutton's electorate.{{cite news |url=https://10daily.com.au/news/politics/a190506xdrlg/inside-getups-ambitious-campaign-to-crush-dutton-and-the-liberal-right-20190506 |title=Inside GetUp's Ambitious Campaign To Crush Dutton And The Liberal Right |publisher=Channel 10 |author=Josh Butler |date=6 May 2019 |access-date=5 June 2019 |archive-date=5 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605103106/https://10daily.com.au/news/politics/a190506xdrlg/inside-getups-ambitious-campaign-to-crush-dutton-and-the-liberal-right-20190506 |url-status=live}}

File:MAJGEN Jake Ellwood commander of Australia Defence Force 1st Division MINDEF Peter Dutton and COL Matthew Dalton commander of the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Camp Growl Queensland 18 July 2021.jpg 2021, flanked by Major General Jake Ellwood and US Colonel Matthew Dalton]]

In March 2021, Dutton was appointed Minister for Defence.{{cite web |last=Worthington |first=Brett |date=29 March 2021 |title=Scott Morrison moves Christian Porter, Linda Reynolds and Peter Dutton in Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-29/scott-morrison-reshuffles-cabinet-reynolds-porter-dutton/100035484 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915000425/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-29/scott-morrison-reshuffles-cabinet-reynolds-porter-dutton/100035484 |archive-date=15 September 2021 |access-date=29 March 2021 |publisher=ABC News (Australia)}} On 21 May 2021, Dutton directed the department and serving military personnel to stop pursuing a "woke agenda", and cease holding events to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia where staff wore rainbow clothing.{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-are-not-pursuing-a-woke-agenda-dutton-bans-special-morning-teas-at-defence-after-idahobit-20210521-p57u2g.html |title='We are not pursuing a woke agenda': Dutton bans special morning teas at Defence after IDAHOBIT |first1=James |last1=Massola |first2=Anthony |last2=Galloway |date=21 May 2021 |access-date=24 May 2021 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-date=23 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523225249/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-are-not-pursuing-a-woke-agenda-dutton-bans-special-morning-teas-at-defence-after-idahobit-20210521-p57u2g.html |url-status=live}} On 11 July 2021, Dutton announced the end of Australia's military presence in Afghanistan.{{cite web |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/south-central-asia_australia-says-last-troops-withdrawn-afghanistan/6208111.html |title=Australia Says Last Troops Withdrawn From Afghanistan|work=Voice of America |date=11 July 2021 |access-date=31 July 2021 |archive-date=12 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712023118/https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/australia-says-last-troops-withdrawn-afghanistan?amp |url-status=live}} In October 2021, Dutton said Australia will back up any U.S. effort to defend Taiwan if China attacks.{{cite news |title=Australia will support US response if China attacks Taiwan: Australian defense chief |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4325225 |work=Taiwan News |date=25 October 2021 |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127192724/https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4325225 |url-status=live }} In November 2021, he branded the former Prime Minister Paul Keating as "Grand Appeaser Comrade Keating".{{cite news |title=Former Australian PM Paul Keating criticises Liz Truss over 'demented' China comments |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/24/former-australian-pm-paul-keating-criticises-liz-truss-over-demented-china-comments |work=The Guardian |date=24 January 2022 |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708182227/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jan/24/former-australian-pm-paul-keating-criticises-liz-truss-over-demented-china-comments |url-status=live }}

On 16 June 2021, in the Federal Court, Justice Richard White ordered Dutton to attend mediation over a defamation suit he brought against refugee activist Shane Bazzi over a tweet calling him a "rape apologist".{{cite news |url=http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/16/peter-dutton-to-enter-court-ordered-mediation-with-shane-bazzi-in-tweet-defamation-case |title=Peter Dutton to enter court-ordered mediation with Shane Bazzi in tweet defamation case |last=Karp |first=Paul |agency=Australian Associated Press|date=16 June 2021|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=22 October 2021 |archive-date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923071227/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/16/peter-dutton-to-enter-court-ordered-mediation-with-shane-bazzi-in-tweet-defamation-case |url-status=live }} In August 2021, it was announced that this mediation had failed.{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/mediation-fails-in-peter-dutton-s-defamation-suit-over-tweet-20210820-p58kj7.html|title=Mediation fails in Peter Dutton's defamation suit over tweet|last=Whitbourn|first=Michaela|date=20 August 2021|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=23 September 2021|archive-date=6 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006110138/https://www.smh.com.au/national/mediation-fails-in-peter-dutton-s-defamation-suit-over-tweet-20210820-p58kj7.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/21/peter-dutton-to-be-sole-witness-in-defamation-case-against-refugee-activist|title=Peter Dutton to be sole witness in defamation case against refugee activist|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=21 September 2021|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 September 2021|archive-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923071413/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/21/peter-dutton-to-be-sole-witness-in-defamation-case-against-refugee-activist|url-status=live}} On 24 November 2021, White ruled in Dutton's favour and awarded $35,000 in defamation damages, but refused Dutton's bid for an injunction to prevent Bazzi tweeting about him.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/24/peter-dutton-wins-defamation-case-against-refugee-activist-shane-bazzi-over-tweet|last=Karp|first=Paul|title=Peter Dutton wins defamation case against refugee activist Shane Bazzi over tweet|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 November 2021|access-date=24 Nov 2021|archive-date=4 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504110752/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/24/peter-dutton-wins-defamation-case-against-refugee-activist-shane-bazzi-over-tweet|url-status=live}} This decision was overturned on 17 May 2022 by the Full Court of the Federal Court, which found that the words "rape apologist", taken in the context of the whole message together with the Guardian article to which it was linked, referred to Dutton's attitude not to rape itself but toward claims of having been raped and accordingly did not amount to defamation.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/17/shane-bazzi-wins-appeal-in-defamation-case-over-peter-dutton-tweet|last=Knaus|first=Christopher|title=Shane Bazzi wins appeal in defamation case over Peter Dutton tweet|work=The Guardian|date=17 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517013030/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/17/shane-bazzi-wins-appeal-in-defamation-case-over-peter-dutton-tweet|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/appeal-court-overturns-peter-dutton-s-35-000-defamation-win-over-tweet-20220517-p5alzv.html|last=Whitbourn|first=Michaela|title=Appeal court overturns Peter Dutton's $35,000 defamation win over tweet|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=17 May 2022|access-date=17 May 2022|archive-date=17 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517015602/https://www.smh.com.au/national/appeal-court-overturns-peter-dutton-s-35-000-defamation-win-over-tweet-20220517-p5alzv.html|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Shadow ministry of Peter Dutton|2025 Australian federal election}}

The Coalition was defeated at the 2022 election, with Dutton retaining his seat despite a swing against him.{{Cite news |date=2022-05-22 |title=The winners and losers of the federal election |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-22/federal-election-winners-and-losers/101089334 |access-date=2022-05-26 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526111529/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-22/federal-election-winners-and-losers/101089334 |url-status=live }} After Scott Morrison resigned as leader of the Liberal Party, Dutton was elected unopposed as the new leader, with Sussan Ley elected as deputy.{{Cite news|title=Peter Dutton elected new Liberal Party leader, Sussan Ley becomes deputy leader|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-30/peter-dutton-liberal-party-leader-sussan-ley-deputy/101109498|access-date=2022-05-30|newspaper=ABC News|date=30 May 2022|archive-date=30 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530171734/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-30/peter-dutton-liberal-party-leader-sussan-ley-deputy/101109498|url-status=live}} While in parliament in December 2022, Dutton repeatedly, after multiple corrections, referred incorrectly to Sharon Claydon as "Mr Speaker".{{Cite news |title=Australia's female Speaker repeatedly called 'Mr' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-australia-63996035 |access-date=2022-12-16 |archive-date=16 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216194122/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-australia-63996035 |url-status=live }} On 1 April 2023, a by-election was held in the seat of Aston, triggered by the resignation of Liberal MP Alan Tudge. In a surprise result, the Labor candidate Mary Doyle won the election, marking the first time since 1920 that an Australian government had won a by-election from the opposition.{{cite news |last=Yu |first=Andi |date=1 April 2023 |title=Labor snatches historic victory in Aston by-election in Melbourne's outer east |website=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-01/byelection-result-aston-melbourne-labor-win/102157990 |access-date=13 April 2023 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413063618/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-01/byelection-result-aston-melbourne-labor-win/102157990 |url-status=live }} Having said during the campaign that the result would be a "verdict on the leaders", Dutton said afterwards that he accepted responsibility for the result, but still deserved to remain Liberal leader.{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-02/dutton-defends-aston-by-election-loss/102176908 | title=Peter Dutton says he 'accepts responsibility' for devastating Aston by-election defeat | newspaper=ABC News | date=April 2023 | access-date=2 April 2023 | archive-date=2 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402013015/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-02/dutton-defends-aston-by-election-loss/102176908 | url-status=live }}

In April 2023, Dutton announced that the Liberal Party would oppose the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. Although members of the Liberal frontbench were forced to adopt this position, party backbenchers were free to campaign for the referendum.{{Cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Angus |last2=Sakkal |first2=Paul |title=Liberal Party to oppose government's Voice to parliament |language=en |work=The Age |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/liberal-party-to-oppose-voice-to-parliament-20230405-p5cy7f.html |date=2023-04-05 |access-date=2022-04-05 |archive-date=5 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405082840/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/liberal-party-to-oppose-voice-to-parliament-20230405-p5cy7f.html |url-status=live }} Dutton's stance on the referendum was immediately met with opposition from within the Liberal Party. On 6 April, former Liberal MP Ken Wyatt resigned from the party in protest.{{cite web| title=Former Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt ends Liberal Party membership over Voice to Parliament stance| website=ABC News| date=6 April 2023| url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-06/ken-wyatt-quits-liberals-over-voice-to-parliament-stance/102197862| access-date=9 April 2023| archive-date=6 April 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406081744/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-06/ken-wyatt-quits-liberals-over-voice-to-parliament-stance/102197862| url-status=live}} The following week, shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser quit the Liberal frontbench and moved to the backbenches so he could freely campaign in favour of the referendum.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-11/liberal-frontbencher-julian-leeser-voice-to-parliament/102207614|title=Shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser quits Liberal frontbench to support Voice to Parliament|publisher=ABC News|date=11 April 2023|access-date=11 April 2023|archive-date=11 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411005252/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-11/liberal-frontbencher-julian-leeser-voice-to-parliament/102207614|url-status=live}} The next day, Simon Birmingham, the leader of the Liberal Party in the Senate, also announced that he would not be adopting the party position.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/12/simon-birmingham-the-latest-liberal-party-frontbencher-who-will-not-campaign-against-indigenous-voice|title=Simon Birmingham the latest Liberal party frontbencher who will not campaign against Indigenous voice|work=Guardian Australia|first=Josh|last=Butler|date=12 April 2023|accessdate=13 April 2023|archive-date=12 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412230455/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/12/simon-birmingham-the-latest-liberal-party-frontbencher-who-will-not-campaign-against-indigenous-voice|url-status=live}}

Following a shadow cabinet reshuffle, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price was appointed the shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians on 18 April 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-18/coalition-peter-dutton-shadow-frontbench-reshuffle-karen-andrews/102234570 |title=Peter Dutton unveils new Coalition frontbench in wake of Julian Leeser's resignation over Voice to Parliament |publisher=ABC News |date=18 April 2023 |access-date=18 April 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418040410/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-18/coalition-peter-dutton-shadow-frontbench-reshuffle-karen-andrews/102234570 |url-status=live}} Following allegations of sexual harassment and assault made by independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, Dutton removed Liberal Senator David Van from the Liberal party room on 15 June 2023.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Jake |date=15 June 2023 |title=Peter Dutton dumps Senator David Van from Liberal party room |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-15/peter-dutton-dumps-senator-david-van-from-liberal-party-room/102481814 |access-date=15 June 2023 |website=ABC |archive-date=15 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615041029/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-15/peter-dutton-dumps-senator-david-van-from-liberal-party-room/102481814 |url-status=live }} In August 2023, Dutton said that ballot counting rules in the upcoming 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum were "rigged", attracting criticism from MPs. On 3 September 2023, Dutton committed to hold a second referendum on Indigenous recognition if the Voice referendum failed, while also expressing support for his party's election proposal for a series of legislated local bodies (without a national one).{{cite news|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/peter-dutton-pledges-second-voice-referendum-if-vote-fails/ce9c02e5-d72a-4cfe-ad6d-8506aee71c70|title=Peter Dutton pledges to hold second referendum if Voice vote fails|publisher=9News|date=2023-09-03|access-date=2023-09-16|archive-date=15 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915105516/https://www.9news.com.au/national/peter-dutton-pledges-second-voice-referendum-if-vote-fails/ce9c02e5-d72a-4cfe-ad6d-8506aee71c70|url-status=live}} However, following the defeat of the Voice proposal, Dutton stated that his party's prior commitment to symbolic constitutional recognition would be reviewed and that "it's clear the Australian public is probably over the referendum process for some time".{{Cite web |last=McHugh |first=Finn |date=16 October 2023 |title=Days after Voice vote, Peter Dutton waters down Indigenous recognition commitment |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/days-after-voice-vote-peter-dutton-waters-down-indigenous-recognition-commitment/t5or4hzpz |access-date= |website=SBS News |language=en |archive-date=17 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217221107/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/days-after-voice-vote-peter-dutton-waters-down-indigenous-recognition-commitment/t5or4hzpz |url-status=live }} On 10 January 2024, Dutton called for a boycott of Woolworths after it confirmed that it will no longer stock Australia Day-themed merchandise due to reduced sales over recent years.{{cite news|last1=Knott|first1=Matthew|last2=Ireland|first2=Olivia|date=11 January 2024|title=Dutton's Australia Day boycott of Woolworths blasted as 'culture war' division|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-calls-for-boycott-of-woolworths-for-not-selling-australia-day-items-20240111-p5ewlh.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location=|access-date=15 January 2024|archive-date=14 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114231910/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-calls-for-boycott-of-woolworths-for-not-selling-australia-day-items-20240111-p5ewlh.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Butler|first=Josh|date=11 January 2024|title=Peter Dutton calls for boycott of Woolworths after Australia Day merchandise dropped|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/11/woolworths-big-w-australia-day-merchandise-dropped-sale-peter-dutton-boycott-calls|work=The Guardian|location=|access-date=15 January 2024|archive-date=15 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115055018/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/11/woolworths-big-w-australia-day-merchandise-dropped-sale-peter-dutton-boycott-calls|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Thorne|first1=Leonie|last2=Branley|first2=Alison|date=11 January 2024|title=Woolworths and Big W Australia Day decision prompts Peter Dutton to call for boycott|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-11/woolworths-big-w-shops-australia-day-merch-sales-decision/103309612|work=ABC News|location=|access-date=15 January 2024|archive-date=15 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115002111/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-11/woolworths-big-w-shops-australia-day-merch-sales-decision/103309612|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Swain|first=Sarah|date=11 January 2024|title=Peter Dutton calls for Woolworths boycott after Australia Day merchandise dropped|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-day-woolworths-drops-products/46a83c7c-41ee-46ac-b441-960c4a2214e7|work=Nine News|location=|access-date=15 January 2024|archive-date=14 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114195152/https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-day-woolworths-drops-products/46a83c7c-41ee-46ac-b441-960c4a2214e7|url-status=live}}

In July 2024, Dutton's remarks relating to Fatima Payman were characterised by Laura Tingle as "an example of how to surgically hit every hot-button issue in one short grab for the cameras" (see {{Section link|Muslim political alliance|nopage=y}}). On 29 July 2024, Dutton arrived in Israel for a three-day visit reimbursed by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=Peter Dutton set to visit Israel, meet government officials |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/peter-dutton-set-to-visit-israel/gy4r8r84a |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=SBS News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Grattan |first=Michelle |date=2024-08-01 |title=View from The Hill: Dutton tells Netanyahu he'd improve relations with Israel, as danger for Australians in Lebanon rises |url=https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-dutton-tells-netanyahu-hed-improve-relations-with-israel-as-danger-for-australians-in-lebanon-rises-235953 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}} He met Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials.{{cite web |last=Adno |first=Carly |date=1 Aug 2024 |title=Dutton meets with Netanyahu in Israel |url=https://www.australianjewishnews.com/opposition-leaders-three-day-visit-to-israel/ |publisher=The Australian Jewish News}}

In 2023 and 2024, a number of stories regarding Dutton's leadership of the Department of Home Affairs reached the public for the first time. It was revealed that a 2020 report had uncovered serious issues with the department's detention approach, but Dutton had chosen not to act.{{Cite news |last=Karp |first=Paul|date=2023-09-08 |title=Home affairs under Peter Dutton was warned 'failing' immigration detention may have breached duty of care |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/09/home-affairs-peter-dutton-warned-immigration-detention-duty-of-care |access-date=2024-02-21 |newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=16 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916020646/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/sep/09/home-affairs-peter-dutton-warned-immigration-detention-duty-of-care |url-status=live }} In February 2024, the independent Richardson Review{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Dennis |date=10 October 2022 |title=Review of Integrity Concerns and Governance Arrangements for the Management of Regional Processing Administration by the Department of Home Affairs |url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/richardson-review/richardson-review-report.pdf |website=Department of Home Affairs |access-date=16 February 2024 |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213173848/https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/files/richardson-review/richardson-review-report.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=12 February 2024 |title=Review of Integrity Concerns and Governance Arrangements for the Management of Regional Processing Administration by the Department of Home Affairs |url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/review-integrity-concerns-governance-arrangements-management-regional-processing-administration-department-home-affairs |access-date=16 February 2024 |website=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216092053/https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/review-integrity-concerns-governance-arrangements-management-regional-processing-administration-department-home-affairs |url-status=live }} was published, which uncovered a number of damning failures of governance at the Department of Home Affairs while Dutton was Minister. It was revealed that under Dutton's leadership:

• The department had made multi-million dollar contracts with companies suspected of criminal activity, including drug smuggling, corruption, and bypassing US sanctions.{{Cite news |last=McKenzie |first=Parker |date=15 February 2024 |title=Scathing report puts Peter Dutton's Home Affairs tenure under scrutiny |url=https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2024/02/15/dutton-home-affairs |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=The New Daily |archive-date=15 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215110126/https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2024/02/15/dutton-home-affairs |url-status=live }}
• Dutton had personally intervened with the department to allow a criminal to stay in Australia, stating that it would be in the public interest.{{Cite news |last=Karp |first=Paul|date=2024-02-13 |title=Peter Dutton intervened to allow criminal to extend stay in Australia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/14/peter-dutton-intervened-to-allow-criminal-to-extend-stay-in-australia |access-date=2024-02-16|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216092053/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/14/peter-dutton-intervened-to-allow-criminal-to-extend-stay-in-australia |url-status=live }}
• The department had made an extremely lucrative contract with Paladin without a competitive tender process, and despite the company being registered to a beach shack on Kangaroo Island. In two separate cases, KPMG had audited the wrong company when undergoing financial audits of contractors.{{Cite web |last=Feik |first=Nick |date=2024-02-13 |title=Dutton likely unscathed by damning Home Affairs revelations, thanks to the media |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/02/14/peter-dutton-home-affairs-scandal-kpmg-paladin-news-corp/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Crikey |language=en-US |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216092053/https://www.crikey.com.au/2024/02/14/peter-dutton-home-affairs-scandal-kpmg-paladin-news-corp/ |url-status=live }}

An editorial in The Age noted that the department seemed to lack accountability, with nobody found responsible for any of the failings.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=Buck stops with nobody in embarrassing fallout from Home Affairs scandals |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/buck-stops-with-nobody-in-embarrassing-fallout-from-home-affairs-scandals-20240212-p5f47a.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=The Age |language=en}} However, media outlets including News Corporation and the ABC largely ignored the scandal. At the same time, the department was involved in another scandal, when $80 million intended for Papua New Guinea disappeared. The payments were in return for resettling refugees from Manus Island, however, service providers stopped receiving payments in 2022, and neither government could explain why.{{Cite news|last1=Bachelard|first1=Michael|last2=McKenzie|first2=Nick|date=2023-11-16 |title=Where did all the money go? Tens of millions for PNG refugees disappear in months |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/where-did-all-the-money-go-tens-of-millions-for-png-refugees-disappear-in-months-20231116-p5ekjt.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221095042/https://www.smh.com.au/national/where-did-all-the-money-go-tens-of-millions-for-png-refugees-disappear-in-months-20231116-p5ekjt.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Middleton |first=Karen |date=2024-02-17 |title=Money for PNG asylum seekers vanishes amid corruption scandal |url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2024/02/17/money-png-asylum-seekers-vanishes-amid-corruption-scandal |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=The Saturday Paper |language=en |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221093433/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2024/02/17/money-png-asylum-seekers-vanishes-amid-corruption-scandal |url-status=live }} Shortly after these revelations, a group of 30 men arrived in Australia by boat.{{Cite web |title=Border Force investigating arrival of 30 men by boat in Western Australia |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/border-force-investigating-arrival-of-30-men-by-boat-in-western-australia/xzcdfmeg3 |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=SBS News |date=16 February 2024 |language=en |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221092318/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/border-force-investigating-arrival-of-30-men-by-boat-in-western-australia/xzcdfmeg3 |url-status=live }} Dutton blamed the Albanese government, and misleadingly claimed that Labor had cut $600 million from Operation Sovereign Borders.{{Cite news |last=Karp |first=Paul|date=2024-02-19 |title=Factcheck: Peter Dutton says Labor has weakened Australia's asylum policy. Is he right? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/20/factcheck-peter-dutton-labor-weakened-australia-asylum-seeker-policy-border-enforcement-budgets-wa-boat |access-date=2024-02-21|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-date=16 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916020533/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/20/factcheck-peter-dutton-labor-weakened-australia-asylum-seeker-policy-border-enforcement-budgets-wa-boat |url-status=live }}

Dutton led the Liberal-National Coalition to the 2025 election.{{cite web |last=Truu |first=Maani |title=Campaign kicks off ahead of May 3 federal election, with lines drawn on cost of living and energy |website=ABC News |date=28 March 2025 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-28/federal-election-2025-campaign-may-3/104750332 |access-date=6 April 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250330054418/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-28/federal-election-2025-campaign-may-3/104750332 |archive-date=30 March 2025}} He ran what was considered by numerous commentators to be a poor campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-has-led-one-of-the-worst-election-campaigns-in-living-memory-20250429-p5lv7q.html|title=Dutton has led one of the worst election campaigns in living memory|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Niki|last=Savva|authorlink=Niki Savva|date=29 April 2025|accessdate=4 May 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-04/election-result-labor-victory-positive-future/105247606|title=This election result shows Labor learned a lesson that the Coalition did not|first=Laura|last=Tingle|authorlink=Laura Tingle|work=ABC News|date=4 May 2025|accessdate=4 May 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/veteran-journalist-chris-uhlmann-sky-news-andrew-clennell-deliver-brutal-verdict-on-coalitions-worst-ever-campaign-approaches-to-policy/news-story/a49126bd45cfb3998df2aa8983d18d5b|title=Veteran journalist Chris Uhlmann, Sky News' Andrew Clennell deliver brutal verdict on Coalition's 'worst' ever campaign and 'approaches to policy'|work=Sky News Australia|first=Max|last=Melzer|date=4 May 2025|accessdate=4 May 2025}} At the election on 3 May, the Coalition suffered its worst ever defeat at a federal election, losing at least 18 seats while Labor won an expanded majority. Dutton lost his own seat of Dickson, with Labor challenger Ali France defeating him on her third attempt. Going into the election, Dutton held Dickson on an extremely marginal 1.7 percent. However, he lost over seven percent of his primary vote from 2022 and was defeated on a swing of 7.7 percent after all preferences were distributed.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-state-broadcaster-abc-projects-opposition-leader-dutton-lose-seat-2025-05-03/|title=Australia opposition leader Dutton loses seat in shock vote defeat|work=Reuters|first=Alasdair|last=Pal|date=3 May 2025|accessdate=4 May 2025}}[https://tallyroom.aec.gov.au/HouseDivisionPage-31496-252.htm Dickson, Qld], 2025 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission. It was the third time since Federation that a major-party leader had lost their own seat,{{cite web |last=Green |first=Antony |date=20 February 2021 |title=The Gurgle Hole of History – Leaders who've lost their Seats at Elections |url=https://antonygreen.com.au/the-gurgle-hole-of-history-leaders-whove-lost-their-seats-at-elections/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206165943/https://antonygreen.com.au/the-gurgle-hole-of-history-leaders-whove-lost-their-seats-at-elections/ |archive-date=6 February 2025 |access-date=4 May 2025 |website=Antony Green's Election Blog}} and the first time an Opposition Leader had been defeated in their own seat.

In his concession speech, Dutton accepted responsibility for the party's defeat.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-03/peter-dutton-losing-dickson-coalition-leadership/105247916|title=Peter Dutton to leave Coalition leaderless, conceding he has lost his seat of Dickson|work=ABC News|first=Jake|last=Evans|date=3 May 2025|accessdate=4 May 2025}} His defeat was compared to the loss of the Canadian Conservative Party in the 2025 Canadian federal election held earlier that week, with both results being ascribed to a rise of hostile sentiment toward US President Donald Trump that had a negative effect on conservative parties worldwide. Parallels were also drawn from Dutton to Canadian Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre, who also lost his own seat.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australia-election-results-anthony-albanese-labor-trump-b2744273.html|title=Labor wins Australia election as 'Trump factor' swings voters|work=The Independent|first=Rituparna|last=Chatterjee|date=3 May 2025|accessdate=3 May 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-05/trump-dutton-federal-election-albanese-toxic-liberal-politics/105249448|title= Donald Trump trespassed on the federal election and poisoned Peter Dutton's campaign|work=ABC News|first=Alan|last=Kohler|authorlink=Alan Kohler|date=5 May 2025|accessdate=5 May 2025}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/03/trump-elections-global-impact-australia-canada/|title=How Trump's second term has affected elections around the world|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Anumita|last=Kaur|date=3 May 2025|accessdate=5 May 2025|url-access=subscription}}

On 7 May, Dutton spoke publicly for the first time since his election defeat. He stated that he planned to make a "graceful exit" from politics, but declined to comment on who should succeed him as leader of the Liberal Party. Dutton's deputy Sussan Ley defeated Angus Taylor in a leadership election to succeed him as leader.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/13/sussan-ley-liberal-party-leader-leadership-vote-contest|title=Sussan Ley elected first female Liberal party leader and leaves possibility open of Coalition abandoning net zero targets|website=The Guardian|date=13 May 2025|first1=Tom|last1=McIlroy|first2=Krishani|last2=Dhanji|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250513013536/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/13/sussan-ley-liberal-party-leader-leadership-vote-contest|archive-date=13 May 2025|url-status=live}}

Dutton is aligned with the "National Right" faction of the Liberal Party,{{cite news|last=Massola|first=James|title=Peter Dutton supersedes Scott Morrison as Liberal Party's conservative champion |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/peter-dutton-supersedes-scott-morrison-as-liberal-partys-conservative-champion-20151130-glbdkb.html |access-date=5 August 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=1 December 2015 |archive-date=5 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805153753/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/peter-dutton-supersedes-scott-morrison-as-liberal-partys-conservative-champion-20151130-glbdkb.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Knott|first=Matthew|title=More than Cory Bernardi: Why right wing politics is fracturing in Australia |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/more-than-cory-bernardi-why-right-wing-politics-is-fracturing-in-australia-20170207-gu7c2u.html |access-date=5 August 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 February 2017 |archive-date=9 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809230718/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/more-than-cory-bernardi-why-right-wing-politics-is-fracturing-in-australia-20170207-gu7c2u.html |url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Massola|first=James|date=21 March 2021|title=Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions?|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/who-s-who-in-the-liberals-left-right-and-centre-factions-20210303-p577gv.html|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=1 February 2022|archive-date=22 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322020317/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/who-s-who-in-the-liberals-left-right-and-centre-factions-20210303-p577gv.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Massola |first1=James |title=How Morrison's shattering defeat gave Dutton a seismic shift in factional power |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-morrison-s-shattering-defeat-gave-dutton-a-seismic-shift-in-factional-power-20230330-p5cwoq.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 April 2023 |access-date=4 December 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410122913/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-morrison-s-shattering-defeat-gave-dutton-a-seismic-shift-in-factional-power-20230330-p5cwoq.html |url-status=live }} which he led and was considered the pre-eminent member of.{{cite news|last=Aiton|first=Doug|title=Fifteen things you didn't know about Peter Dutton |url=http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/01/04/15-things-didnt-know-peter-dutton/ |access-date=5 August 2017|work=The New Daily |date=4 January 2016 |archive-date=5 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805145118/http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/01/04/15-things-didnt-know-peter-dutton/ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Peter Dutton – next Liberal leader? |url=http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4631083.htm |access-date=5 August 2017|work=Media Watch |date=6 March 2017 |archive-date=14 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814050703/http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s4631083.htm |url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Albrechtsen|first=Janet|title=Peter Dutton: the Liberal leader Australia deserves|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/peter-dutton-the-liberal-leader-australia-deserves/news-story/de4e113303b194e1085357d8e5149881?nk=708424bc9e38379bfec7826642d9b0ae-1501916691|access-date=5 August 2017|work=The Australian|date=22 July 2017|archive-date=18 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118114811/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/peter-dutton-the-liberal-leader-australia-deserves/news-story/de4e113303b194e1085357d8e5149881?nk=708424bc9e38379bfec7826642d9b0ae-1501916691|url-status=live}} He has been described as a right-wing populist,{{cite news|work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/tosv.html?url=L3Rvc3YyLmh0bWw/dXJsPUwyNWxkM012WVhKMGFXTnNaWE12TWpBeE9DMHdPQzB5TXk5aGRYTjBjbUZzYVdFdGQyRnBkSE10ZEc4dGMyVmxMWGRvYnkxM2FXeHNMV3hsWVdRdFkyOTFiblJ5ZVMxaGN5MTBkWEp1WW5Wc2JDMXlaV1ZzY3kxcWJEWnBZbkYxZUElM0QlM0QmdmlkPSZ1dWlkPTcyYmJiMzAyLWRlMDktMTFlZi1iMGVkLTFlNTZjODM5YWZhNQ==&uuid=72fc42b3-de09-11ef-9101-d2df19823277&vid= |date=22 August 2018 |title=Australia's Turnbull Digs in as Rival Dutton Seeks Leadership |access-date=25 August 2018 |archive-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329210330/https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2018-08-23/australia-waits-to-see-who-will-lead-country-as-turnbull-reels-jl6ibqux |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull threatens to quit parliament if party doesn't back him as battle for leadership deepens |date=23 August 2018 |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/2160921/australian-pm-malcolm-turnbull-brink-rebel-peter-dutton?amp=1|work=South China Morning Post |access-date=25 August 2018 |archive-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329161312/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/2160921/australian-pm-malcolm-turnbull-brink-rebel-peter-dutton?amp=1 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|work=The Straits Times |date=24 August 2018 |title=Turnbull's future hangs in the balance |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/turnbulls-future-hangs-in-the-balance |access-date=25 August 2018 |archive-date=25 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825180132/https://www.straitstimes.com/world/turnbulls-future-hangs-in-the-balance |url-status=live}} with some of his positions being compared to those of Donald Trump and Trumpism, leading to him being mockingly dubbed "Temu Trump" by some media outlets.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title='Temu Trump' - Dutton questioned about similarity to Trump |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/temu-trump-dutton-questioned-about-similarity-to-trump-20250312-p5lj23.html |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Anne |date=2025-04-16 |title=Too much like Trump? Australia's opposition leader Peter Dutton risks turning off voters |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/16/too-much-like-trump-australias-opposition-leader-peter-dutton-risks-turning-off-voters |access-date=2025-05-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Dutton is opposed to an Australian republic. In December 2018, Dutton told Sky News that for the prior seventeen years he had regarded "parliament as a disadvantage for sitting governments".{{Cite web |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_5977400223001 |title=Peter Dutton sees 'parliament as a disadvantage for governments' |website=Sky News Australia |date=9 December 2018 |access-date=4 January 2020 |archive-date=4 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104005841/https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_5977400223001 |url-status=live}}

On 26 September 2019, one day after the partial decriminalisation of personal cannabis use by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government, Dutton called the decision "unconscionable" and "dangerous" in a 2GB interview.{{Cite news |last=Karp |first=Paul |date=2019-09-26 |title=Peter Dutton: government may override 'dangerous' ACT decision to legalise cannabis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/sep/26/peter-dutton-cannabis-christian-porter-challenge-act-law-legalise-drugs |access-date=2024-09-22|newspaper=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=2019-09-26 |title=Peter Dutton fires warning shot at ACT for decision to legalise cannabis |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/peter-dutton-fires-warning-shot-at-act-for-legalise-cannabis/11551040 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=triple j |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Koziol |first=Michael |date=2019-09-26 |title=Morrison government weighs options against 'dangerous, trendy' ACT cannabis laws |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-government-weighs-options-against-dangerous-trendy-act-cannabis-laws-20190926-p52v5z.html |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} In September 2023, Dutton characterised ACT legislation on the limited decriminalisation of illicit substances as "crazy", saying that Canberra would become a "boom market" for drug gangs.{{Cite news |last=Ison |first=Sarah |date=2023-09-13 |title=Peter Dutton seeks to overturn ACT legislation decriminalising hard drugs |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/peter-dutton-seeks-to-overturn-act-legislation-decriminalising-hard-drugs/news-story/b2ce169ea7b6afdda1f728b01be255aa |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230913140251/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/peter-dutton-seeks-to-overturn-act-legislation-decriminalising-hard-drugs/news-story/b2ce169ea7b6afdda1f728b01be255aa?amp&nk=7537d76ac9e3e148d8ba30fd8ce10d7b-1694613779 |archive-date=2023-09-13 |access-date=2024-09-22 |work=The Australian}}

In March 2017, The Sydney Morning Herald reported Dutton had privately expressed the view that the legal recognition of same-sex marriage was inevitable, and that he contended that the Coalition taking the initiative was better than allowing Labor to oversee the process.

In March 2017, 31 CEOs signed a letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull calling for a free vote in the Australian Parliament on same-sex marriage. In response to this letter, on 16 March, Dutton said that the CEOs "shouldn't shove their views down our throats" and that CEOs who were "doing the wrong thing" should "be publicly shamed".{{Cite web |url=http://www.minister.border.gov.au/peterdutton/Pages/int-with-Ray-Hadley,-Radio-2GB4BC.aspx |title=Interview with Ray Hadley, Radio 2GB-4BC |last=Dutton |first=Peter |date=16 March 2017 |website=The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325023834/http://www.minister.border.gov.au/peterdutton/Pages/int-with-Ray-Hadley,-Radio-2GB4BC.aspx |url-status=live}} Dutton repeated his criticism at a speech to the LNP State Council in Queensland on 18 March.{{Cite web |url=http://www.minister.border.gov.au/peterdutton/Pages/Address-to-the-LNP-State-Council,-Cairns.aspx |title=Address to the LNP State Council, Cairns |last=Dutton |first=Peter |date=18 March 2017 |website=The Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=24 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324174728/http://www.minister.border.gov.au/peterdutton/Pages/Address-to-the-LNP-State-Council,-Cairns.aspx |url-status=live}} The Herald then reported that "the forcefulness of Mr Dutton's attack on corporate chief executives last week{{mdash}}in which he told them to "stick to their knitting"{{mdash}}has aroused suspicion among some colleagues who believed he was committed to achieving a breakthrough on [same-sex marriage]".{{cite news |author=Knott |first=Matthew |date=22 March 2017 |title=Peter Dutton working behind the scenes to legislate same-sex marriage before CEO spray |url=https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/peter-dutton-working-behind-the-scenes-to-legislate-samesex-marriage-before-ceo-spray-20170320-gv2lcq.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402015700/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/peter-dutton-working-behind-the-scenes-to-legislate-samesex-marriage-before-ceo-spray-20170320-gv2lcq.html |archive-date=2 April 2017 |access-date=2 April 2017 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}} The following month, The Daily Telegraph reported that Dutton was asked by a lesbian for clarification on his position, and he "told her he had been clear that he was against same-sex marriage".{{Cite web |last=Smethurst |first=Annika |date=2 April 2017 |title=Peter Dutton put on spot over same-sex marriage by lesbian at restaurant |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/peter-dutton-put-on-spot-over-samesex-marriage-by-lesbian-at-restaurant/news-story/afa5bc84e86d09ed71d696ba14f4e1eb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022185131/https://insight.adsrvr.org/track/up?adv=9squtb4&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsubscribe%2Fnews%2F1%2F%3FsourceCode%3DDTWEB_WRE170_a%26dest%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%252Fnews%252Fnsw%252Fpeter-dutton-put-on-spot-over-samesex-marriage-by-lesbian-at-restaurant%252Fnews-story%252Fafa5bc84e86d09ed71d696ba14f4e1eb%26memtype%3Danonymous%26mode%3Dpremium%26v21%3Ddynamic-cold-control-noscore%26V21spcbehaviour%3Dappend&upid=dndo4jr&upv=1.1.0 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |access-date=15 June 2017 |website=The Daily Telegraph |location=Australia}}

Writing in The Conversation, Michelle Grattan remarked, "those calling for more free speech are squealing increasingly loudly when others exercise their freedom in a way they don't like", comparing Dutton's public confrontation against his stance on Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.{{Cite web |url=https://theconversation.com/free-speech-it-depends-who-you-are-in-peter-duttons-view-74818 |title=Free speech? It depends who you are, in Peter Dutton's view |last=Grattan |first=Michelle |date=19 March 2017 |website=The Conversation |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=24 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324175320/https://theconversation.com/free-speech-it-depends-who-you-are-in-peter-duttons-view-74818 |url-status=live}} Former New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally commented in The Guardian, "In Dutton's Australia [...] Free speech is great and should be expanded, unless it's an Australian corporate CEO speaking about same-sex marriage. Then they need to shut up."{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/20/is-peter-dutton-setting-the-stage-for-his-coming-prime-ministership?CMP=soc_567 |title=Peter Dutton shines as a minister when his opponents can't be heard |last=Keneally |first=Kristina |date=20 March 2017 |website=The Guardian |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=24 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324180446/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/20/is-peter-dutton-setting-the-stage-for-his-coming-prime-ministership?CMP=soc_567 |url-status=live }} Simon Birmingham expressed disagreement with Dutton's comments.{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/politics/peter-dutton-slapped-down-over-comments-on-the-gay-marriage-debate/news-story/ca83f872ce7cd346aab26ffd920d6dd0 |title=Peter Dutton slapped down over comments on the gay marriage debate |date=19 March 2017 |work=News.com.au |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=24 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324061221/http://www.news.com.au/national/politics/peter-dutton-slapped-down-over-comments-on-the-gay-marriage-debate/news-story/ca83f872ce7cd346aab26ffd920d6dd0 |url-status=live}}

On 28 September 2017, following the news that US rapper Macklemore would sing a pro-marriage equality song at the NRL Grand Final, Dutton said in the name of free speech that "two songs should be played, one for gay marriage and one against gay marriage".{{Cite news|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/dutton-says-pro-and-anti-same-sex-marriage-songs-should-be-performed-at-nrl-final-after-macklemore-controversy/34mv83fxz|title=Dutton says pro and anti-same sex marriage songs should be performed at NRL final after Macklemore controversy|date=28 September 2017|website=SBS News|access-date=3 June 2022|archive-date=3 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603034155/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/dutton-says-pro-and-anti-same-sex-marriage-songs-should-be-performed-at-nrl-final-after-macklemore-controversy/34mv83fxz|url-status=live}}{{Cite tweet|user=matttburke |number=1532000371857448960|last=Burke|first=Matt|title=The footage of Peter Dutton suggesting that an anti same-sex marriage song be performed in response to Macklemore's 'Same Love' at the 2017 NRL Grand Final is somehow dumber than I remembered.}}

After becoming Liberal leader in 2022, Dutton stated "We are the Liberal Party. We believe in families – whatever their composition."{{Cite web |last=Massola |first=James |date=2022-05-25 |title='We are Liberals': Peter Dutton's rallying cry to moderates and conservatives |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-are-liberals-peter-dutton-s-rallying-cry-to-moderates-and-conservatives-20220525-p5aof6.html |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

After US President Donald Trump signed an executive order which stated that the United States federal government will only recognize two genders, male and female, Nationals leader David Littleproud called on Australia to adopt a similar policy. Dutton dismissed Littleproud's comments saying that "We don't have any plans to change our position in relation to that issue."{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Jake |date=2025-01-22 |title=Peter Dutton shuts down Nationals leader's call to 'lean into' gender debate |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-23/dutton-shuts-down-transgender-debate-lean-in-littleproud/104849652 |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|language=en}}

In August 2023, Dutton said that ballot counting rules in the upcoming 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum were "rigged", referring to the possibility for certain ticks {{Emdash}} in addition to writing "yes" {{Emdash}} to be sporadically treated as valid responses. In response, the Australian Electoral Commission stated that they rejected the assertions "completely and utterly".{{cite news |last=Canales |first=Sarah Basford |date=25 August 2023 |title=AEC hits back after Peter Dutton suggests voice referendum rules are 'rigged' |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/25/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-aec-poll-unfairness-claims-rejected |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217090712/https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/25/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-referendum-aec-poll-unfairness-claims-rejected |archive-date=17 December 2023 |access-date=17 December 2023}} Senators David Pocock and Sarah Hanson-Young called the allegations a "new low". Independent MP Monique Ryan remarked that Dutton "will do anything, even undermine faith in our democratic processes, to score cheap political points".{{cite web |last1=Butler |first1=Josh |last2=Hurst |first2=Daniel |date=29 August 2023 |title='New low': Peter Dutton accused of seeking to 'undermine' faith in Australia's electoral system |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/29/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-peter-dutton-sarah-hanson-young-new-low |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217090707/https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/29/indigenous-voice-to-parliament-peter-dutton-sarah-hanson-young-new-low |archive-date=17 December 2023 |access-date=17 December 2023 |website=The Guardian}} Rachel Withers, writing in The Monthly, characterised the claims as "Trumpian".{{cite web |last=Withers |first=Rachel |date=28 August 2023 |title=Crossing the line |url=https://www.themonthly.com.au/the-politics/rachel-withers/2023/08/28/crossing-line |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217090712/https://www.themonthly.com.au/the-politics/rachel-withers/2023/08/28/crossing-line |archive-date=17 December 2023 |access-date=17 December 2023 |website=The Monthly}}

In December 2024, Dutton stated his opposition to flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the national flag, viewing them as "a symbol of division" and saying that he would remove them from the official Australian government press conferences.{{cite web | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/peter-dutton-pledges-to-remove-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-flag-from-press-conferences-if-elected/kzf4qindg | title=Peter Dutton says he'll never stand in front of an Aboriginal flag as prime minister | publisher=NITV | date=2024-12-10 | access-date=2024-12-24}}

In 2018, Dutton expressed support for school-aged children to be required to make a pledge similar to an Oath of Allegiance.{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2018 |title=Dutton wants US-style pledge of loyalty for Aussie kids |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/home-affairs-minister-peter-dutton-calls-for-us-style-pledge-of-allegiance-for-australian-school-children-ng-b88752353z |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926042311/https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/home-affairs-minister-peter-dutton-calls-for-us-style-pledge-of-allegiance-for-australian-school-children-ng-b88752353z |archive-date=26 September 2022 |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=The West Australian}}{{Cite web |title=Dutton proposes civics 'pledge' for schoolchildren, immigration changes |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/dutton-proposes-civics-pledge-for-schoolchildren-immigration-changes/shx4dbuk7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509063031/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/dutton-proposes-civics-pledge-for-schoolchildren-immigration-changes/shx4dbuk7 |archive-date=9 May 2022 |access-date=9 May 2022 |website=SBS News|date=21 February 2018 }}{{cite web |title=Kids should pledge loyalty to Australia: Dutton |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/peter-dutton-flags-australian-values-pledge-updated-citizenship-test-as-home-affairs-priorities/news-story/1a13c7f0a48c43755226f2a31a4418c0 |website=The Courier Mail}}

In 2024, Dutton supported moves for age verification on social media.{{cite news | url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/peter-dutton-says-future-coalition-government-would-raise-the-minimum-age-for-social-media-in-australia/news-story/c74de377fa4fb11f02e6754e2cc0b94b | title='Catch up': Albo's dig at Dutton | work=news }}{{cite web | url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/peter-dutton-makes-major-call-on-social-media-rules-set-to-affect-teenage-facebook-instagram-and-tiktok-users-c-15003899 | title=Dutton makes major call on social media rules for Aussie teens | date=12 June 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/opposition-calls-for-bipartisan-support-to-introduce-social-media-ban/6a7c9e31-e936-4e53-ba48-fa9b340d6333 | title=Opposition calls for bipartisan support to introduce social media ban | date=13 June 2024 }} Dutton's Coalition supported the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, which banned users under sixteen years old from creating social media accounts.{{cite news | url = https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-children-ban-safeguarding-harm-accounts-d0cde2603bdbc7167801da1d00ecd056 |url-status=live |archive-date=29 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241129005544/https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-children-ban-safeguarding-harm-accounts-d0cde2603bdbc7167801da1d00ecd056 | title = Australian Parliament bans social media for under-16s with world-first law | first1 = Rod | last1 = McGuirk |last2=Chan |first2=Kelvin |location=Melbourne, Australia; London | date = 29 November 2024 | access-date = 28 November 2024 | work = The Associated Press }} As Opposition Leader, he pledged to introduce laws that would make it an offence to post content on social media that promoted crime.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-14/dutton-push-criminalise-social-media-crime-promotion/103586388|title=Coalition push to make promoting crime online an offence, with powers to take down violent content|work=ABC News|first=Jake|last=Evans|date=14 March 2024|accessdate=10 May 2025}}

Dutton has been characterised as a climate change denier, and has said he would "let scientists pass that judgment" when questioned if he believed climate change had contributed to increasing extreme weather events.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/17/peter-dutton-climate-change-global-heating-response-abc-debate-ntwnfb|title=Peter Dutton insists he 'believes in climate change' after refusing to say if impacts of global heating worsening|work=Guardian Australia|first1=Dan|last1=Jervis-Bardy|first2=Lisa|last2=Cox|date=17 April 2025}} In 2024 and 2025, Dutton expressed his rejection of the Albanese government's climate policy, the Paris Agreement, and COP 31.{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-31/hosting-climate-conference-madness-dutton-suggests/105114710 |title=Hosting COP31 climate conference in 2026 is 'madness', Dutton suggests |first=Stephen |last=Dziedzic |publisher= ABC News |date=30 March 2025 |access-date=31 March 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/climate-change-dutton-to-pull-australia-out-of-paris-agreement-20240608-p5jk91.html |title=Dutton to pull Australia out of Paris Agreement if elected |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 June 2024 |first=Mike |last=Foley |access-date=31 March 2025}}

In a July 2023 address to the Institute of Public Affairs, Dutton argued for the adoption of nuclear power, calling it "the only feasible and proven technology" that can "firm up renewables and help us achieve the goals of clean, cost effective and consistent power". ABC journalist Monte Bovill characterised it as "ramping up calls for nuclear power in Australia". Dutton claimed that small modular reactors could be installed at decommissioned coal power plants, saying, "We can convert or repurpose coal-fired plants to use the transmission connections that already exist on those sites."{{cite web | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-07/peter-dutton-david-littleproud-coalition-nuclear-reactors/102574782 | title=Peter Dutton opting for the nuclear option for Australia's energy future | date=7 July 2023 | first=Monte | last=Bovill | publisher=ABC News | access-date=24 October 2023 | archive-date=2 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102112416/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-07/peter-dutton-david-littleproud-coalition-nuclear-reactors/102574782 | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-07 |title=Leader of the Opposition – Address to the Institute of Public Affairs – Check Against Delivery |url=https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-address-to-the-institute-of-public-affairs-check-against-delivery/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724022408/https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-address-to-the-institute-of-public-affairs-check-against-delivery/ |archive-date=2023-07-24 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Peter Dutton MP |language=en-AU}}

In October 2023, he expressed opposition to a proposed off-shore wind farm of New South Wales' Hunter Region, saying that the environmental impacts to "rare bird species" and the seabed were unknown. "We're all in favour of renewable energy, but not at any cost, and not where you're destroying jobs and livelihoods and the environment", Dutton remarked.{{cite web |last=Canales |first=Sarah Basford |date=24 October 2023 |title=Proposed NSW windfarm 'fast growing into a national scandal', says Peter Dutton |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/24/proposed-nsw-windfarm-fast-growing-into-a-national-scandal-says-peter-dutton |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025045833/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/oct/24/proposed-nsw-windfarm-fast-growing-into-a-national-scandal-says-peter-dutton |archive-date=25 October 2023 |access-date=24 October 2023 |work=The Guardian}} In February and March 2024, Dutton expressed opposition to Labor's proposal to introduce new vehicle fuel efficiency standards. He called it "Mr Albanese's new ute tax and new family car tax".{{cite news |date=14 March 2024 |title=We fact checked Peter Dutton on whether Labor's new fuel efficiency standards are a 'ute tax'. Here's what we found |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-15/fact-check-vehicle-missions-standard-ute-family-car-tax/103587622 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328005728/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-15/fact-check-vehicle-missions-standard-ute-family-car-tax/103587622 |archive-date=28 March 2024 |access-date=28 March 2024 |newspaper=ABC News}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-06 |title=Leader of the Opposition – Transcript – Joint Doorstop Interview with the Hon Angus Taylor MP and Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, East Victoria Park |url=https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-joint-doorstop-interview-with-the-hon-angus-taylor-mp-and-senator-the-hon-michaelia-cash-east-victoria-park/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315041815/https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-joint-doorstop-interview-with-the-hon-angus-taylor-mp-and-senator-the-hon-michaelia-cash-east-victoria-park/ |archive-date=2024-03-15 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Peter Dutton MP |language=en-AU}} Dutton said that the proposal would increase the price of new vehicles.

Asked at a press conference on 12 March 2024 regarding the annual GenCost report from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) identifying nuclear reactors as being more expensive than fossil fuels and renewable sources, Dutton called the report "discredited" and said that it was "well documented" that the CSIRO was unreliable.{{cite web | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-15/csiro-rebukes-dutton-nuclear-cost-criticism/103591780 | title=Nation's science agency CSIRO hits back at Dutton claim that nuclear power costings were 'discredited' - ABC News | website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=15 March 2024 | access-date=17 June 2024 | archive-date=17 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617113828/https://amp.abc.net.au/article/103591780 | url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-12 |title=Leader of the Opposition – Transcript – Joint Doorstop Interview with Mrs Melissa McIntosh MP, Jamisontown |url=https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-joint-doorstop-interview-with-mrs-melissa-mcintosh-mp-jamisontown/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316230654/https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-joint-doorstop-interview-with-mrs-melissa-mcintosh-mp-jamisontown/ |archive-date=2024-03-16 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Peter Dutton MP |language=en-AU}} CSIRO chief executive Doug Hilton repudiated the allegations.

In November 2022, former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull called Dutton's claims about the necessity of nuclear power "complete and utter nonsense".{{Cite web |date=2022-11-04 |title=The solutions have always been clear to history's Malcolms |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/the-solutions-have-always-been-clear-to-history-s-malcolms-20221102-p5bv1o |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=James |date=2022-11-03 |title='Idiocy': Turnbull delivers stinging review of 'unelectable' Dutton |url=https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2022/11/03/turnbull-dutton-nuclear-energy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202112607/https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2022/11/03/turnbull-dutton-nuclear-energy |archive-date=2 December 2023 |accessdate=13 December 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Hayden |date=2022-11-03 |title=Malcolm Turnbull Press Conference Transcript – Climate of the Nation Report Launch |url=https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/malcolm-turnbull-transcript-climate-of-the-nation-report-launch/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The Australia Institute |language=en-US}} On 23 September 2024, Dutton remarked in a speech, "Labor tells you that renewables and nuclear can't work together. It's utter nonsense."{{Cite news |last=Tingle |first=Laura |date=2024-09-23 |title='Very different advice': Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean contradicts Dutton on nuclear power |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-23/matt-kean-expert-advice-differs-peter-dutton-nuclear-plan/104386552 |access-date=2024-09-23 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-23 |title=Leader of the Opposition – Speech to the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA), Sydney – Check Against Delivery |url=https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-speech-to-the-committee-for-economic-development-australia-ceda-sydney-check-against-delivery/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923112557/https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-speech-to-the-committee-for-economic-development-australia-ceda-sydney-check-against-delivery/ |archive-date=2024-09-23 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Peter Dutton MP |language=en-AU}}

Before the 2016 election, Dutton voiced opposition to proposals to increase humanitarian visas, saying it could lead to large numbers struggling to integrate. "For many people, they won't be numerate or literate in their own language let alone English", Dutton remarked, adding "These people would be taking Australian jobs, there's no question about that."{{cite news |last1=Keany |first1=Francis |last2=Anderson |first2=Stephany |date=18 May 2016 |title=Election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull backs 'outstanding' Peter Dutton after refugee comments |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-18/dutton-warns-illiterate-refugees-will-take-aussie-jobs/7424198 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519022912/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-18/dutton-warns-illiterate-refugees-will-take-aussie-jobs/7424198 |archive-date=19 May 2016 |access-date=31 May 2017 |work=ABC News}} Turnbull defended Dutton by stating he is an "outstanding Immigration Minister".

Asked in November 2016 during question time to clarify his earlier controversial comments regarding the "mistakes" made by the Malcolm Fraser government "in bringing some people in",{{Cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Stephanie |last2=Holman |first2=Julia |last3=Belot |first3=Henry |date=2016-11-18 |title=Government inquiry to consider revoking visas for migrants involved in gangs |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-18/inquiry-to-consider-revoking-visas-for-migrants-in-gangs/8036774 |access-date=2024-09-22 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} Dutton replied that the majority of people charged with terrorist-related offences were "from second and third generation Lebanese{{Endash}}Muslim background".{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Stephanie |date=21 November 2016 |title=Peter Dutton suggests Fraser government made mistake by resettling Lebanese refugees |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-21/peter-dutton-fraser-made-mistake-resettling-lebanese-refugees/8043624 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108234541/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-21/peter-dutton-fraser-made-mistake-resettling-lebanese-refugees/8043624 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |access-date=2021-11-08 |work=ABC News}}{{Cite web |last=Grattan |first=Michelle |date=2016-11-21 |title=Dutton hits back at criticism of his attack on Fraser refugee policy |url=https://theconversation.com/dutton-hits-back-at-criticism-of-his-attack-on-fraser-refugee-policy-69173 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}} Tony Burke criticised Dutton, saying that Australian security agencies "would be devastated and shocked that a minister would do that".{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=Katharine |date=2016-11-21 |title=Peter Dutton's 'Lebanese Muslim' comments will dismay security services, Labor says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/22/peter-dutton-lebanese-muslim-comments-dismay-security-services-labor |access-date=2024-09-22|newspaper=The Guardian}} Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defended Dutton, saying that he was referring to the lack of "significant services" in Fraser's time, and specifically to people charged with terrorism offences, "He made it quite clear that he respects and appreciates the contribution that the Lebanese community make in Australia."{{cite news |date=23 November 2016 |title=Julie Bishop defends Peter Dutton's comments on Lebanese immigration |url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/11/23/10/46/dutton-referring-to-lack-of-services-about-1970s-lebanese-immigration-bishop |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125144507/http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/11/23/10/46/dutton-referring-to-lack-of-services-about-1970s-lebanese-immigration-bishop |archive-date=25 November 2016 |access-date=27 November 2016 |work=Nine.com.au}} According to former national security official Clark Jones, Dutton's remarks risked "creating the terrorists of the future".{{Cite web |last=Snow |first=Deborah |date=2016-11-24 |title=Peter Dutton's remarks on Lebanese Muslims risk 'creating terrorists of future' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/peter-duttons-remarks-on-lebanese-muslims-risk-creating-terrorists-of-future-20161124-gswqlz.html |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

On 25 November 2016, 30 Lebanese organisations met in Auburn to discuss the issue. According to The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), Dutton was criticised for reversing "years of hard work in building cohesion" and "belittling the entire community". One anonymous group leader characterised the comments as "a smear on the 99.99 per cent of Australian Lebanese Muslims who are resiliently getting on with life despite the constant attacks on their identity". He added, "If Mr Dutton wants to play this game perhaps he can release the top three cultural backgrounds of the perpetrators of domestic violence, drunken assaults, paedophilia and rape. He might find the numbers slightly over representative of his own cultural cohort {{Emdash}} white males." The Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) demanded Dutton to either meet with community groups for an "open discussion", or "remain silent".{{Cite web |author1=Heath Aston |author2=Rachel Olding |date=2016-11-25 |title=Meet with us or be quiet: Lebanese community issues demand to Dutton |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/meet-with-us-or-be-quiet-lebanese-community-issues-demand-to-dutton-20161125-gsxqv2.html |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

In a 2023 episode of Kitchen Cabinet, Annabel Crabb asked Dutton about the 2016 comments. He replied, "I have apologised for that".{{Cite web |last=Begley |first=Patrick |date=2024-08-17 |title=Dutton says he apologised for Lebanese Muslim remarks. Community leaders never heard it |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-says-he-apologised-for-lebanese-muslim-remarks-community-leaders-never-heard-it-20240817-p5k36a.html |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} Asked by the SMH in August and September 2024, various community leaders said they were unaware of an apology; one likened the 2016 comments to Dutton's 2024 comments on Gazan refugees. However, Rifi expressed gratitude for Dutton's efforts to repatriate Australian orphans from Syria, saying "The guy is not heartless".{{Cite web |last=Begley |first=Patrick |date=2024-09-17 |title=The deepening mystery of a Peter Dutton apology |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-deepening-mystery-of-a-peter-dutton-apology-20240904-p5k7q4.html |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

Lech Blaine, author of a 2024 Quarterly Essay piece about Dutton,{{sfn|Blaine|2024|p=28}} said that she was unaware of an apology. Mehal Krayem, co-author of a 2019 paper on the subject of Dutton's comments and the media framing,{{Cite journal |last1=Betts |first1=Judith |last2=Krayem |first2=Mehal |date=2019-03-05 |title=Strategic Othering: Framing Lebanese Migration and Fraser's 'Mistake' |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajph.12538 |journal=Australian Journal of Politics and History|volume=65 |issue=1 |pages=100–114 |doi=10.1111/ajph.12538 |issn=0004-9522|url-access=subscription }} doubted the existence of an apology. According to the SMH, no apology was identified after searches of newspaper archives, Dutton's Twitter publications and speech transcripts on his website. One day after the SMH article was published, Dutton said at a press conference that he had apologised to an unnamed "senior person".{{Cite news |last1=Karp |first1=Paul |last2=Messenger |first2=Andrew |date=2024-09-19 |title=Dutton suggests apology for calling Lebanese-Muslim migration a 'mistake' made to 'senior person' in community |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/19/peter-dutton-apology-lebanese-muslim-migration-comment-ntwnfb |access-date=2024-09-22 |newspaper=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Leader of the Opposition – Transcript – Joint Doorstop Interview with Ms Maggie Forrest Liberal National Party Candidate for Ryan, Ashgrove |url=https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-joint-doorstop-interview-with-ms-maggie-forrest-liberal-national-party-candidate-for-ryan-ashgrove/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240922034024/https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-joint-doorstop-interview-with-ms-maggie-forrest-liberal-national-party-candidate-for-ryan-ashgrove/ |archive-date=2024-09-22 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website= |publisher=Peter Dutton MP |language=en-AU}}

{{main article|African gangs moral panic}}

In January 2018, Dutton said that people in Melbourne were scared of going out because of "gang violence" involving African Australians.{{cite web |last=Karp |first=Paul |date=3 January 2018 |title=Peter Dutton says Victorians scared to go out because of 'African gang violence' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/03/peter-dutton-says-victorians-scared-to-go-out-because-of-african-gang-violence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114052352/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/03/peter-dutton-says-victorians-scared-to-go-out-because-of-african-gang-violence |archive-date=14 November 2018 |access-date=22 August 2018 |website=The Guardian}} In an ABC interview, Jason Wood, Liberal MP representing the Division of La Trobe, repudiated suggestions that the rhetoric was an attempt at attracting race-based votes. Wood referred to the statistics he had obtained in a parliamentary migration inquiry.{{Cite news |date=2018-07-22 |title=Liberal MP denies African gangs being used as election issue |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-22/liberal-mp-denies-claims-african-gangs-being-used-election-issue/10021506 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607225745/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-22/liberal-mp-denies-claims-african-gangs-being-used-election-issue/10021506 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |access-date=2023-10-12 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jul/09/channel-sevens-african-gangs-beat-up-prompts-fear-among-african-australians|title=Channel Seven accused of fear-mongering over 'African gangs' story|first=Luke|last=Henrique-Gomes|date=9 July 2018|access-date=22 September 2024|publisher=Guardian Australia}} News.com.au reported that Dutton was "ridiculed" by Melbourne social media users.{{cite news |last=Law |first=James |date=4 January 2018 |title=Dutton ridiculed for saying Melburnians were 'scared to go out' |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/dutton-ridiculed-for-saying-melburnians-were-scared-to-go-out/news-story/2c7497d00539ed19cbe4e8424eda83c3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827212937/https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/dutton-ridiculed-for-saying-melburnians-were-scared-to-go-out/news-story/2c7497d00539ed19cbe4e8424eda83c3 |archive-date=27 August 2018 |access-date=6 September 2018 |work=News.com.au}} Dutton's comments formed part of a wider media discourse linking African immigrants to crime in Melbourne dating back to 2016, after violent disturbances at the Moomba Festival which were attributed by the press to the "Apex gang", a supposed African crime gang for which little evidence existed. According to a 2019 study by Monash University, Dutton's remarks followed a "flurry of 'sensationalist' media pieces about 'African gangs' in Melbourne" and members of the African-Australian community felt "stigmatised and labelled because of their race and perceived association with criminality".{{cite news|url=https://lens.monash.edu/@politics-society/2019/05/21/1374964/young-south-sudanese-australians-have-their-say|title=Voices of reason: young South Sudanese Australians have their say|publisher=Monash University|date=21 May 2019|access-date=22 September 2024|first1=Jarrett|last1=Blaustein}}

In 2020, Malcolm Turnbull expressed regret over defending Dutton for his comments at the time, suggesting that he was "too trusting" and that he used to attribute the "sometimes offensive remarks" from Dutton to "verbal clumsiness and awkwardness".{{Cite web |title=Malcolm Turnbull regrets backing Peter Dutton over 'African gangs' comments |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/malcolm-turnbull-regrets-backing-peter-dutton-over-african-gangs-comments/hv3iyqm6p |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906105551/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/malcolm-turnbull-regrets-backing-peter-dutton-over-african-gangs-comments/hv3iyqm6p |archive-date=6 September 2023 |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=SBS News |date=22 April 2020 |language=en}}

{{Further|South African farm attacks#Australia}}

In 2018, Dutton supported the intake of White South African victims of farm attacks.{{cite news |date=22 March 2018 |title=Controversial Australian Minister Dutton the next prime minister, or the great divider? |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/controversial-australian-minister-peter-dutton-the-next-prime-minister-or-the-great-divider-20180322 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022185137/https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/controversial-australian-minister-peter-dutton-the-next-prime-minister-or-the-great-divider-20180322 |archive-date=22 October 2021 |access-date=11 September 2018 |work=News24}}{{cite web |date=15 May 2018 |title=South African group under fire for lobbying US for white rights |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/south-african-group-fire-lobbying-white-rights-180514054424008.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911111511/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/south-african-group-fire-lobbying-white-rights-180514054424008.html |archive-date=11 September 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}{{cite news |date=23 August 2018 |title=Trump and the man trying to topple Australia's government share an affinity for helping South Africa's white farmers |url=https://qz.com/1367287/donald-trump-wants-to-help-south-africas-white-farmers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904225736/https://qz.com/1367287/donald-trump-wants-to-help-south-africas-white-farmers/ |archive-date=4 September 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 |work=Quartz}} He described the circumstances as "horrific".{{cite web |date=23 August 2018 |title=The truth about white farmers in South Africa – and why the right is obsessed with them |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/donald-trump-white-farmers-south-africa-genocide-ethnic-cleansing-land-seizures-racism-violence-a8504156.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904200433/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/donald-trump-white-farmers-south-africa-genocide-ethnic-cleansing-land-seizures-racism-violence-a8504156.html |archive-date=4 September 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 |work=The Independent}} BBC News reported that the message of 'white genocide', which had been promoted by the extremist Suidlanders, had resonated with Dutton, who claimed he was considering the provision of fast-track visas to white South African farmers. Dutton referred to the farmers as being "persecuted" and needing help from a "civilised" country.{{cite web |date=1 September 2018 |title=South Africa: The groups playing on the fears of a 'white genocide' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45336840 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904235657/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45336840 |archive-date=4 September 2018 |access-date=11 September 2018 |publisher=BBC}} Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale denounced the proposal as racist, saying that it would be a return to the White Australia Policy.{{cite web |date=16 March 2018 |title=Peter Dutton labelled 'racist' by Richard Di Natale over call to bring white South African farmers to Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-16/south-africa-wants-apology-from-dutton-over-farmers-comments/9554340 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206030414/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-16/south-africa-wants-apology-from-dutton-over-farmers-comments/9554340 |archive-date=6 December 2018 |access-date=26 May 2019 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

In September 2019, Dutton characterised the two children of the Biloela family {{Emdash}} asylum claimants detained at Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation {{Emdash}} as "anchor babies" who were being used to "leverage a migration outcome based on the children".{{cite web |last=Karp |first=Paul |date=12 September 2019 |title=Peter Dutton says Biloela Tamil children are 'anchor babies' used to help case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/sep/12/peter-dutton-says-biloela-tamil-children-are-anchor-babies-used-to-help-case |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621013022/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/sep/12/peter-dutton-says-biloela-tamil-children-are-anchor-babies-used-to-help-case |archive-date=21 June 2021 |access-date=16 February 2022 |work=The Guardian}}{{cite web |date=12 September 2019 |title=Tamil family children labelled 'anchor babies' by Peter Dutton |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/peter-dutton-labels-biloela-kids-anchor-babies-20190912-p52qos.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619142202/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/peter-dutton-labels-biloela-kids-anchor-babies-20190912-p52qos.html |archive-date=19 June 2021 |access-date=16 February 2022}}

In July 2024, Dutton remarked about Fatima Payman's departure from the Labor Party. To Nine News, Dutton said that whilst he did not "have any problem with a party that has a religious view", there were "all sorts of problems" with supporting "a Palestinian cause or a cause outside of Australia" as "a first order of priority".{{Cite news |last=Manfield |first=Evelyn |date=2024-07-05 |title=Faith-based political parties would 'undermine social cohesion', PM says |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-05/anthony-albanese-fatima-payman-muslim-vote/104063568 |access-date=2024-09-22 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Tingle |first=Laura |date=2024-07-06 |title=The Australian government has tried to find a middle path when it comes to Gaza. Fatima Payman's departure tells us that can be just as perilous |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-06/fatima-payman-labor-departing-reflects-divisions-gaza/104064894 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706053228/https://amp.abc.net.au/article/104064894 |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=ABC News }}{{Cite news |last1=Canales |first1=Sarah Basford |last2=Hurst |first2=Daniel |date=2024-07-08 |title=Who are the grassroots Muslim groups with an eye on Labor seats? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/09/who-are-the-grassroots-muslim-groups-with-an-eye-on-labor-seats |access-date=2024-09-22|newspaper=The Guardian}} At a press conference on 4 July, Dutton said of prime minister Anthony Albanese, "if he's in a minority government in the next term of parliament, it will include the Greens, it'll include the Green-teals, it'll include Muslim candidates from Western Sydney, it will be a disaster."{{Cite web |last=Yosufzai |first=Rashida |date=2024-08-06 |title=Peter Dutton's 'Muslim candidates' comment referred to anti-discrimination body |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/peter-duttons-muslim-candidates-comment-referred-to-anti-discrimination-body/3ihex3f4q |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=SBS News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-04 |title=Leader of the Opposition – Transcript – Joint Doorstop Interview with the Hon David Littleproud MP, the Hon Angus Taylor MP and Ms Joanne Van Der Plaat, Liberal Party Candidate for Eden-Monaro, Googong |url=https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-joint-doorstop-interview-with-the-hon-david-littleproud-mp-the-hon-angus-taylor-mp-and-ms-joanne-van-der-plaat-liberal-party-candidate-for-eden-monaro-googon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240715080537/https://www.peterdutton.com.au/leader-of-the-opposition-transcript-joint-doorstop-interview-with-the-hon-david-littleproud-mp-the-hon-angus-taylor-mp-and-ms-joanne-van-der-plaat-liberal-party-candidate-for-eden-monaro-googon/ |archive-date=2024-07-15 |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Peter Dutton MP |language=en-AU}} Laura Tingle characterised the remarks as "an example of how to surgically hit every hot-button issue in one short grab for the cameras". Cricketer Usman Khawaja called his comments "an absolute disgrace" and "bigotry at its finest", contending that he was "fuelling Islamophobia from the very top".{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Alex |date=2024-08-06 |title=Formal complaint made over Peter Dutton's alleged Islamophobia |url=https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2024/08/06/formal-complaint-peter-dutton-alleged-islamophobia |access-date=2024-09-22 |work=The New Daily}}

On 14 August 2024, Dutton criticised the Labor government in a Sky News Australia interview over what he saw as inadequate vetting of people fleeing from Gaza, saying that he did not think "people should be coming in from that war zone at all at the moment" and that he thought "it puts our national security at risk". He contended that Australians "would be shocked to think that the government's bringing in people from a war zone" and asserted that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was "not conducting checks and searches on these people". Later that day, Anthony Albanese reacted in an ABC News Breakfast interview, saying that Dutton "always seeks to divide". He said that the government took advice from intelligence agencies and not "from someone always looking for a fight, always looking for division".{{Cite web |last=Yallop |first=Rania |date=2024-08-14 |title='Abhorrent': Backlash over Dutton's call to ban fleeing Palestinians from Australia |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/peter-duttons-call-to-ban-fleeing-palestinians-from-australia-sparks-backlash/v9y0mxph4 |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=SBS News |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Karp |first=Paul |date=2024-08-14 |title=Peter Dutton says Australia should not accept Palestinians from Gaza due to 'national security risk' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/14/peter-dutton-says-palestinians-gaza-national-security-risk-australia |access-date=2024-09-24|newspaper=The Guardian}}{{Cite news |last=Crowley |first=Tom |date=2024-08-13 |title=Dutton says people fleeing Gaza should not be granted a visa, as figures reveal most being refused |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-14/dutton-says-people-fleeing-gaza-should-not-a-granted-a-visa/104222320 |access-date=2024-09-24 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last1=Chrysanthos |first1=Natassia |last2=Massola |first2=James |date=2024-08-14 |title=Dutton says nobody from Gaza should come to Australia |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-says-nobody-from-gaza-should-be-coming-to-australia-20240814-p5k28x.html |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}

Dutton opposes any changes to negative gearing which offers tax breaks to property investors, saying in May 2017 that changing it would harm the economy. He owns six properties with his wife, including a shopping centre in Townsville.{{cite news |last1=Cadzow |first1=Jane |title=Peter Dutton: 'I'm just not impacted by that hatred' |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/good-weekend/peter-dutton-im-just-not-impacted-by-that-hatred-20170516-gw5pt1.html |access-date=28 May 2017|work=Brisbane Times |date=26 May 2017 |archive-date=27 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527073829/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/good-weekend/peter-dutton-im-just-not-impacted-by-that-hatred-20170516-gw5pt1.html |url-status=live}}

Dutton married his first wife when he was 22 years of age; the marriage ended after a few months.{{Cite news |url=https://www.qt.com.au/news/peter-dutton-and-his-journey-to-millionaires-ro/3500697/ |title=How Peter Dutton made his millions |website=Queensland Times|language=en |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-date=14 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714073108/https://www.qt.com.au/news/peter-dutton-and-his-journey-to-millionaires-ro/3500697/ |url-status=live}} His eldest child, a daughter, was born in 2002 to another partner, and split time between her parents in a shared parenting arrangement. In 2003, Dutton married his second wife, Kirilly ({{nee|Brumby}}),{{cite web |author=King |first=Madonna |date=9 August 2014 |title=Good Cop, Bad Cop |url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=A45FB1EC9FDD775C9E8C80EABDC7041F?sy=afr&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=brs&cls=23682&clsPage=1&docID=SMH1408093G46P6814N8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219160340/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=A45FB1EC9FDD775C9E8C80EABDC7041F?sy=afr&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=brs&cls=23682&clsPage=1&docID=SMH1408093G46P6814N8 |archive-date=19 February 2017 |access-date=9 May 2016}} with whom he has two sons.{{cite web |url=https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/peter-dutton-wife-50787 |title=Who is Kirilly Dutton? Meet Peter Dutton's wife and family |last=Royce |first=Holly |date=23 August 2018 |website=nowtolove.com.au |publisher=The Australian Women's Weekly |access-date=13 February 2022 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213052132/https://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/local-news/peter-dutton-wife-50787 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.liberal.org.au/member/peter-dutton |title=Peter Dutton – Liberal Party |date=23 July 2013 |website=liberal.org.au |publisher=Liberal Party |access-date=13 February 2022 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213052140/https://www.liberal.org.au/member/peter-dutton |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=87234 |title=Our Campaigns – Candidate – Peter Dutton |website=ourcampaigns.com |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=28 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828104325/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=87234 |url-status=live}}

Dutton "identifies with the Catholic Church even if he does not attend church regularly".{{Cite web |date=2025-05-05 |title=Faith at the ballot: Australia's election sees rare contest between Catholic candidates {{!}} Catholic News Agency |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/263235/faith-at-the-ballot-australia-s-election-sees-rare-contest-between-catholic-candidates |access-date=2025-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505081743/https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/263235/faith-at-the-ballot-australia-s-election-sees-rare-contest-between-catholic-candidates |archive-date=5 May 2025 }}

On 13 March 2020, Dutton announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first federal cabinet member to do so.{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-13/peter-dutton-diagnosed-with-coronavirus/12055104 |title=Peter Dutton diagnosed with coronavirus |first=Brett |last=Worthington |date=13 March 2020 |website=ABC News (Australia)|access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313105706/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-13/peter-dutton-diagnosed-with-coronavirus/12055104 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-51866343 |title=Australia minister tests positive for coronavirus|work=BBC News |date=13 March 2020 |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313085401/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-51866343 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/home-affairs-minister-peter-dutton-has-coronavirus-20200313-p549y9.html |title=Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has coronavirus|last1=Livingston|first1=Angus|last2=Harris|first2=Rob|date=13 March 2020|newspaper=Brisbane Times|access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=13 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313180051/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/home-affairs-minister-peter-dutton-has-coronavirus-20200313-p549y9.html |url-status=live}}

Dutton suffers from the skin condition alopecia totalis.{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/peter-dutton-officially-launches-liberal-leadership-campaign/news-story/05fde1957cb005342fd05d11d189fe60|title=Peter Dutton officially launches Liberal leadership campaign, reveals skin condition is alopecia - news.com.au|work=news |accessdate=13 December 2023|archive-date=30 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530164213/https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/peter-dutton-officially-launches-liberal-leadership-campaign/news-story/05fde1957cb005342fd05d11d189fe60|url-status=live}}

Dutton supports the Brisbane Broncos in the National Rugby League, but also backed the eventually successful membership bid for a second Brisbane team in the league (the Dolphins).{{cite web | url=https://inqld.com.au/news/2021/05/07/dutton-and-miles-long-time-enemies-put-politics-aside-for-football/ | title=Dutton and Miles, long-time enemies, put politics aside for football | date=7 May 2021 | access-date=14 April 2023 | archive-date=14 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414144330/https://inqld.com.au/news/2021/05/07/dutton-and-miles-long-time-enemies-put-politics-aside-for-football/ | url-status=live }} In the Australian Football League, he supports the Brisbane Lions.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/the-source/the-source-deakin-mp-michael-sukkars-first-soccer-memory-not-quite-accurate/news-story/5f7699dd4d1c89f0d3052489aa600c81?amp&nk=b38dd12a45baa7facf671c225ea96cc5-1724222913|title=The Source: Peter Dutton wins jibe contest at Parliamentary Friends of the AFL shindig|newspaper=Herald Sun|location=Melbourne|date=10 August 2023}}

{{Main|Electoral results for the Division of Dickson}}

{{Image frame

| align=left

| caption=Two-party-preferred performance of Dutton in his seat of Dickson

| content = {{Graph:Chart

| width=500

| height=300

| xAxisTitle=

| yAxisTitle=% of votes

| xAxisAngle = -40

| yAxisMin = 40

| yAxisMax = 60

| legend=Two-party-preferred

| interpolate = bundle

| size = 77

| xType = date

| y1Title = Dutton

| type=line

|xGrid=y

|yGrid=y

| x = 2001/11/10, 2004/04/09, 2007/11/24, 2010/09/21, 2013/09/07, 2016/07/02, 2019/05/18, 2022/05/17

| y1 = 55.97, 57.83, 50.13, 55.13, 56.72, 51.60, 54.64, 51.70

| colors = #0087DC

| showSymbols = 1.5

| symbolsShape = dot

}}

}}

{{clear}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist |30em}}

{{Refbegin |30em |indent=yes}}

• {{cite book |last=Blaine |first=Lech |url=https://www.quarterlyessay.com.au/essay/2024/03/bad-cop |title=Bad Cop: Peter Dutton's strongman politics |publisher=Black Inc. |year=2024 |isbn=9781743823415 |series=Quarterly Essay }}

{{Refend}}

• [http://www.peterdutton.com.au/ Personal homepage]
• {{OpenAustralia}}
• [https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCAFC/2022/84.html Bazzi v Dutton] [2022] FCAFC 84 (17 May 2022)
• [https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCA/2021/1560.html Dutton v Bazzi (No 2)] [2021] FCA 1560 (8 December 2021)
• [https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCA/2021/1474.html Dutton v Bazzi] [2021] FCA 1474 (24 November 2021)

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{{Subject bar |auto=y |d=y |portal1=Australia |portal2=Biography |portal3=Politics }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutton, Peter}}

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