Dutton Slammed for Choosing Sydney Over Canberra
Image: Image: Peter Dutton/Facebook
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has sparked political backlash after revealing he would choose to live at Sydney’s Kirribilli House rather than The Lodge in Canberra if elected prime minister.
In an interview on KIIS FM, Dutton said, “We would live in Kirribilli. You know, we love Sydney, we love the harbour, it’s a great city.” He added, “When you’ve got a choice between Kirribilli and living in Canberra and the Lodge, I think you’d take Sydney any day over Canberra.”
If Dutton follows through, he would become the first non-Sydney-based prime minister to use Kirribilli as his primary residence. Traditionally, The Lodge—located minutes from Parliament House—has been the primary home of prime ministers, allowing proximity to daily federal decision-making.
Dutton’s comments
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese quickly condemned Dutton’s comments, accusing him of arrogance and jumping the gun. “He says he likes the harbour. You know, everyone likes the harbour,” Albanese said. “But your job is to be close to where the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is… I believe the prime minister should live in the Lodge.”
Albanese, himself a lifelong Sydneysider, moved to Canberra after taking office, stating it was essential to avoid the perception of favoring one city over the rest of the country. “One of the frustrations… was that previous occupants of Kirribilli House… saw themselves as being prime minister for Sydney,” he said.
Dutton’s comments fit his broader election pitch, which frequently targets the “Canberra bubble” and public service inefficiency. Earlier this month, he criticised federal bureaucrats for refusing to return to the office full-time, stating, “Australians are working harder than ever… public servants in Canberra [are] turn[ing] up to work when they want to.”
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher slammed Dutton’s remarks, saying, “It is no surprise to me that Peter Dutton is arrogantly measuring the curtains at Kirribilli House while he continues to kick Canberra.”
Independent ACT Senator David Pocock echoed the criticism, adding, “We should have leaders who celebrate [Canberra], not play cheap politics taking pot shots at it.”
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