Politicians from both sides have joined forces to condemn reports showing Peter Dutton’s son pictured holding a bag of what appears to be white powder, saying targeting the families of politicians “should be off limits.”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s son has been photographed holding what is allegedly a clear bag containing a small amount of a white substance.
According to the Courier Mail, 18-year-old Tom Dutton was photographed with the bag at an apartment at Surfer’s Paradise in Queensland.
There are no suggestions that the white substance is drugs.
When contacted, the Opposition leader issued a statement saying: “This is a private matter for the Dutton family.”
The Herald Sun first published an article on Monday, which featured a picture of Mr Dutton’s 18-year-old son Tom holding a clear zip lock bag filled with what appeared to be white powder.
There is no suggestion the substance is drugs.
In the image, Tom Dutton can be seen facing the camera whilst on the balcony of a Surfer’s Paradise apartment on the Gold Coast. There is also a caption which reads: “Birthday day treat. Hello how u goin.”
Mr Dutton’s office issued a single sentence statement in response to the reports, which read “this is a private matter for the Dutton family.”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton with wife Kirilly, daughter Rebecca 20 and sons Tom 16 (centre) and Harry 17 (right). Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian
However, speaking to Sky News Australia after the reports spread, Senator Hughes issued a scathing rebuke of the article, arguing she would “never” want her own children to experience similar targeting by the media.
“I think it’s journalism at its grubbiest. The one thing about politicians is our families should be off limits,” she said.
“I’ve got teenage children. I would never want them to go through something like this, it’s just grubby, and I think Peter’s right it’s a matter for the family.
“It obviously looks like a joke photo. It doesn’t look like something serious. And, you know, I just think targeting people’s kids, where the politicians, where we sign up for this, our family are conscripts to it.”
Senator Hughes issued a scathing rebuke of the article, arguing she would “never” want her own children to experience similar targeting by the media. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman
Mr Mulino backed Senator Hughes’ criticism, arguing it was “really important” that journalists respected the privacy of politician’s families. Picture: David Clark
The Liberal Senator was backed up by Labor’s MP for Fraser, who argued it was “really important” that journalists respected the privacy of politician’s families.
“I was just going to say Hollie just stole one of my lines, which is the, volunteer conscript concept, but I think that’s exactly right,” Mr Mulino said.
“I think Australia’s had a worthwhile and a broadly complied with line, dividing line where we don’t comment on family matters.
“I think particularly in this day and age where we’ve got the rise of social media and, all sorts of exposure of people at the edges of politics, I think it’s really important that we don’t cross that.
“My arguments are with Peter Dutton’s policies, and I won’t go beyond that and comment on anything else.”