If Peter Dutton becomes prime minister, he says he won’t be living at The Lodge in Canberra. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Peter Dutton is refusing to live in The Lodge if he becomes prime minister, confirming on Monday (31 March) that he won’t be relocating to Canberra should he win the federal election.
In a move that will make it even more difficult for any of his ACT candidates to get elected, the Opposition Leader told Sydney radio hosts Kyle and Jackie O that it’s their city he would choose over the national capital.
He would relocate from Queensland with his family to NSW and live full-time in Kirribilli House, overlooking the Opera House on Sydney Harbour.
Mr Dutton didn’t just state his preference when asked by the shock jocks where he would live; he added a jab to the capital city.
“We would live in Kirribilli,” he said.
“We love Sydney, we love the harbour, it’s a great city, and so yes.
“You’ve got the choice between Kirribilli or living in Canberra. I think I’ll take Sydney any day over living in Canberra.”
His public disdain for Canberra attracted immediate criticism from ACT-based federal politicians and even Anthony Albanese, who lives in The Lodge as Prime Minister and who regularly praises life in the capital.
Campaigning in Perth, Mr Albanese described Mr Dutton’s comments as displaying “a fair bit of hubris”. He linked the attitude to previous Liberal PMs who, he said, thought of themselves as “being prime minister for Sydney” only.
“It’s extraordinary that I’m a Sydneysider who’s lived there my whole life, but I’ve chosen to work and live in the national capital,” Mr Albanese said.
“I do spend time in Sydney, obviously. My electorate is there, but I believe the Prime Minister should live in The Lodge … He says he likes the harbour. You know, everyone likes the harbour, but your job is to be close to where the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is, where meetings happen almost every day.”
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the Opposition Leader’s comments were further evidence of his disrespect for the national capital.
She took the opportunity to remind everyone of the Coalition’s plans to slash 41,000 public service jobs in Canberra.
“It’s no surprise to me that Peter Dutton is arrogantly measuring the curtains at Kirribilli House whilst he continues to kick Canberra,” Senator Gallagher said.
“We know he has no respect for our hometown. He openly brags about attacking our city by sacking 41,000 Canberra workers, impacting every single family in the ACT.
“This arrogant attitude is in stark contrast to Prime Minister Albanese, who proudly lives in Canberra and respects the Nation’s Capital.”
Give me Sydney over Canberra any day, says Opposition Leader Peter Dutton MP. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
During his budget reply speech last Thursday (the night before the election was called), Mr Dutton made it clear that the public service jobs he was targeting would be from Canberra.
“We will reverse Labor’s increase of 41,000 Canberra-based public servants – saving $7 billion a year,” he said.
“That’s money we can provide back to the Australian people in frontline services.”
Independent Senator David Pocock described Mr Dutton’s latest dis of the national capital as “cheap politics”. He suggested Canberrans might help the Opposition Leader to stay out of The Lodge anyway.
“Canberrans love the bush capital and we should have leaders who celebrate it, not play cheap politics taking pot shots at it,” Senator Pocock said.
“If Mr Dutton doesn’t want the Lodge, then I’m sure Canberrans can vote in a way that doesn’t give him that option.”
Kirribilli House was never intended to be the Prime Minister of Australia’s official primary place of residence, but was set aside in 1956 as a secondary residence for prime ministers to use when performing public duties and extending official hospitality on behalf of the government during stays in Sydney.
John Howard broke that convention when he was elected PM in 1996, choosing Kirribilli as his primary residence.
Liberal prime ministers Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison did the same.
