Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek defended Peter Dutton’s son after a photo was leaked on social media showing him holding a bag of “white powder”.
The image, which was first published by the Herald Sun, showed Tom Dutton, 18, facing the camera and holding the clear bag on a balcony in Surfers Paradise.
‘Birthday gift. Hello, how are you doing? “said the caption.
The photo was first shared on Snapchat before it was screenshotted and leaked on Monday. The photo has since been deleted.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the white substance was drugs.
The Opposition Leader’s office has declined to comment on the matter, issuing a one-sentence statement saying it is a “private Dutton family matter”.
Peter Dutton’s 18-year-old son Tom (pictured) appeared on the front pages of newspapers after he was photographed holding a bag containing white powder. Image: Supplied/Newscorp Network News
Plibersek expressed her empathy for the families of public figures after she was investigated about the matter on Channel Nine’s Today program on Tuesday.
‘I have no comment at all. “Peter Dutton is a public figure, but his son is not,” he said.
Host Karl Stefanovic continued to press her about the photo.
‘Can you imagine the shame of the poor child?’ he said.
‘I mean, his father is already the leader of the opposition… he’s an ex-policeman… and (Tom) ends up on the front page of the newspaper.
“Children have to suffer with high-profile parents, right?”
Plibersek, a mother of three and former deputy opposition leader, admitted it was not “an easy life” for politicians’ children.
“There’s nothing more embarrassing than going out with your mother and being stopped in stores by people who want to chat,” she said.
‘It’s not an easy life. We enter public life and we choose it. Our families don’t choose it, that’s for sure.’
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek declined to comment on the matter, saying: “Peter Dutton is a public figure, but his son is not.” Image: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
Victorian National Senator Bridget McKenzie also made an appearance and said she had not spoken to Dutton since the story broke on Monday night.
He reiterated that it was “a problem for the Dutton family.”
Labour’s Social Services Minister Amanda Rishwoth also declined to comment, saying: “I think families are recruits to politics.”
Snapchat is popular among young people because posts often disappear once read. Recipients can take screenshots of posts, but the person who shared them will be notified.
Dutton has two sons, Tom and Harry, with his wife Kirilly, as well as his daughter Rebecca, from a previous relationship.
Last year he told ABC’s Kitchen Cabinet how being a police officer before entering politics had influenced his parenting style, admitting he was stricter than most.
“Even in the way you raise your children… You know, not letting them out of your sight because you’ve seen some horrible cases where children have been kidnapped or assaulted,” she told Annabel Crabb during an interview at her home.
He added that he would not let his children use public bathrooms when they were away.
Dutton with his family on election night 2022. Tom is pictured second from the left.