Peter Dutton has enlisted his wife, children and members of the public to contribute to a seven-minute long promotional video speaking of his ’empathy’ and ‘gentle’ nature.
The Opposition Leader set his sights on softening his image when he took over leadership of the Liberal party, after years in portfolios which required him to maintain a hard exterior.
His latest attempt came on Saturday afternoon with a seven-minute long YouTube video titled ‘the Peter Dutton we know’.
Mr Dutton’s wife Kirilly speaks of his ‘commitment to family’, love of the outdoors and ‘very basic, homely things’ throughout the clip, which cuts between interviews with Daniel Morcombe’s parents, a Syrian refugee family and the father of a soldier who tragically died by suicide.
The video features clips of the former cop with his arm around his daughter, looking over Mrs Dutton and their sons while smiling against the backdrop of his family farm north of Brisbane.
They collectively describe Mr Dutton as ‘a big gentle giant’ and ‘a politician we can trust’ who has expressed immense empathy during all their dealings with him.
Peter Dutton has enlisted his wife, children and members of the public to contribute to a seven-minute long promotional video speaking of his ’empathy’
Yara Alhaj, a mother who arrived in Australia from Syria in 2017 with her family – said Mr Dutton was the most important person behind bringing them to Australia and shared this photo of her family meeting him
Mrs Dutton says she wants the public to see her husband’s softer side, singling out his ‘immense empathy, immense kindness’ and ‘passion for building a better life for all Australians’.
She’s also shared an insight into the family’s life at home, when Mr Dutton is not in Canberra or away for work.
‘Life is very normal,’ she said. ‘He loves to go to the kids’ sporting matches, he loves to have friends over, family over.
‘We love being outdoors on the farm, having the kids around. Very basic, homely things.’
The Opposition Leader’s approval rating currently sits at about 22 per cent – lagging significantly behind Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is at 53 per cent, according to a recent Resolve poll.
The video has been viewed 229 times and has 22 ‘likes’.
Comments are disabled on Mr Dutton’s YouTube channel. The promotional clip also played during the Liberal Party’s federal council on Saturday.
Mr Dutton himself also featured on the video, discussing his hopes for the future.
He made a pitch for his political ambitions, describing his ‘real love of the country’ and desire to ‘make decisions that can help families and improve the future of our country’.
Bruce and Denise Morcombe (pictured), whose 13-year-old son Daniel was tragically snatched and murdered while on his way to buy Christmas presents on the Sunshine Coast in 2003, said they’ve come to know Mr Dutton over the years as an intensely private person who ‘driven to make a difference’
The Opposition Leader set his sights on softening his image when he took over leadership of the Liberal party, after years in portfolios which required him to maintain a hard exterior
He also used the clip to remind voters that he is a family man navigating problems which everyday families face.
‘I feel very fortunate to have three beautiful kids and be married to a beautiful wife who has been successful in her own small business,’ he said.
‘Like most households now where both parents have to work, you’ve got to try and find that balance and make sure you’re supporting each other.’
The video includes clips of him eating dinner with his family as their dog sits underneath the table, walking through his farm – again with his children – and meeting with locals in the community.
A spokesperson for Mr Dutton told Daily Mail Australia the video ‘gives a rare insight into Peter Dutton from people he has quietly supported (during his time as Minister for Defence and Home Affairs): including parents who lost their children in tragic circumstances, and a family who escaped war in Syria.
‘It also shows Peter at home with his family and perspectives from his amazing wife Kirilly. These individuals spoke about the Peter Dutton they know – and that’s the Peter Dutton highlighted in this video.’
Bruce and Denise Morcombe, whose 13-year-old son Daniel was tragically snatched and murdered while on his way to buy Christmas presents on the Sunshine Coast in 2003, said they’ve come to know Mr Dutton over the years as an intensely private person who is ‘driven to make a difference’.
Denise said: ‘He’s a big gentle giant.’
Next up in the clip is John Halloran, whose son Tom tragically died by suicide in 21. Mr Dutton called to ask if he and Kirilly could attend Tom’s funeral.
Mr Halloran said: ‘It was very fitting Peter was there. We didn’t know what to expect… Peter being a politician. But he started talking about Tom, how he has a son that is Tom as well.
‘We slowly worked out that he was very concerned about young people in the forces. He was the real deal.’
Next up in the clip was John Halloran, whose son Tom tragically died by suicide in 21. Mr Dutton called to ask if he and Kirilly could attend Tom’s funeral
Mrs Alhaj said she and her family are now living the ‘Australian dream’ with the help of the Opposition Leader, who paid them a visit at their home for lunch
Mr Halloran said Mr Dutton proved to him that he was aware of how painful their loss was, at a time when ‘a bowling ball had just gone through our lives’.
He believes Mr Dutton has a quality ‘lacking in politics these days’, and the ability to sit, listen and learn from those around him.
The final contributor to the lengthy video was Yara Alhaj, a mother who arrived in Australia from Syria in 2017 with her family – and help from Mr Dutton.
Mrs Alhaj said she and her family are now living the ‘Australian dream’ with the help of the Opposition Leader, who paid them a visit at their home for lunch.
‘He was very honest. Sometimes we don’t like all the answers but that’s the truth and that’s reality. I thanked him for bringing us here and I said this is a dream for us just to fly here.
‘He was very emotional – that surprised me. He had tears in his eyes. When I saw him on TV I thought ”oh, this is a very serious man”,’ she said.
But the man who greeted her and her family, who went to great efforts to ensure they had enough to provide for their children, and asked if they had any worries, was not the same man she’d seen on television, Mrs Alhaj said.
‘I finally met a politician I can trust – a real human.
The video includes clips of him eating dinner with his family as his dog sits underneath the table, walking through his farm – again with his children – and meeting with locals in the community
‘He is not faking anything. The Peter Dutton I know cares about people and takes his job really seriously. For my kids I know I did the right thing. They’re going to have a bright future here.’
Mrs Alhaj said her husband sent an email to the Australian embassy in Jordan regarding moving to Australia after losing many friends to the horrors of war. She said they received a phone call 30 minutes later, and arrived in Australia on August 23, 2017.
‘Our new birth date,’ she said.
‘I wanted to meet the people behind this program, I wanted to thank them. I found out the most important one was Peter. He’s the one who opened the door.’
Mr Dutton has been working to soften his hardman image since taking over leadership of his party.
He previously said while the public had grown accustomed to seeing him in ‘tough portfolios’ like defence and home affairs, he hoped to show them a different side.
‘I hope now, in moving from such tough portfolios, the Australian public can see the rest of my character, the side my family, friends and colleagues see,’ he said.
‘The side my community sees where they have elected me eight times. I come from the suburbs and I have never changed my values or forgotten where I have come from.’
Mr Dutton himself also featured on the video, giving a spiel about his hopes for the future