Peter Dutton admitted defeat in his battle to save Dickson seat. He’s served that district since 2001. After 24 years in office, his was a hard-fought campaign. His opponents were formidable, especially the Labor challenger Ali France and Climate 200 – backed independent Ellie Smith. Dutton’s concession marks a significant shift in Queensland’s political landscape.
Dutton admitted to losing the election by a much larger margin than expected. “We didn’t do well enough in this campaign, that much is obvious,” he stated. Him missing in the lead up to Tropical Cyclone Alfred was strange. He was roundly assailed by many of those same residents, in what many think was an overreaction that helped create the tide that led to his unceremonious ouster.
Even in defeat, Dutton went out with poise as expressed in his final statement on the House floor. He congratulated France on her victory and wished France well in her new position. “24 years is a long time in public life, and that is an amazing honour,” he reflected on his lengthy career in politics.
The cost of holding that seat was excruciatingly high. They lamented the prevalent one-term curse that has befallen so many incumbents. Though it sounds implausible, he managed to maintain control of the seat for more than 20 years until this election cycle.
Speaking after the coup, incumbent Liberal Party SFV member and Liberal fronbencher Sarah Henderson sang Dutton’s praises. “I think he has been magnificent as a leader. He brought us together after a pretty gruelling loss in 2022,” she said. Insisting that his party had never been more united, Henderson credited this remarkable unity to Dutton’s work.
James Paterson highlighted the intensity of the campaign against Dutton, stating, “This has been the most ferocious attempt to target him.” This coordinated political strategy and opposition from both Labor and these independent candidates rocked the pressure cooker further, placing even more pressure on Dutton’s campaign.
Reflecting on Dutton’s exit, Henderson lamented the long road ahead for the Liberal Party. “A party that lost its way,” he said. “We will rebuild, but we don’t underestimate the enormity of the task,” she remarked, recognizing the need for revitalization within the party.
Regional development minister Murray Watt, a fellow Queensland Labor MP, emphasised that Queensland hadn’t been doing well electorally for a while. “Frankly, we have underperformed in Queensland for far too long, and there is a chance tonight we can get back to where a major party should be,” he stated during the election period.
As Peter Dutton exits the political stage after a remarkable 24 years, his contributions to Australian politics will be remembered by many.
