Yikes.
It’s time to face facts. Peter Dutton isn’t backing down. So in case you’re wondering who he is, and what he’s been up to during the last 15 years, here’s a brief political timeline of his *ahem* crowning achievements. The future is bleak, my friends.
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2008
Peter Dutton Boycotts the Apology to the Stolen Generations
The year is 2008. The Labour Party is still riding high off the zeitgeist that was ‘Kevin ’07’. But before their party turned to shit, they actually managed to get something done. A formal apology was made by the Prime Minister of Australia to the Stolen Generations. As time would tell, this would far from solve the issues that still effect Indigenous Australia today. However, it was a long overdue and powerful gesture that opened the door for numerous important conversations in the years since. Where then, was Peter Dutton? He boycotted the apology altogether.
“I didn’t appreciate the symbolism of it, and the importance to Indigenous people,” said Dutton as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Nice one. What’s that old saying again? One step forward, ten years back? Yep, that’s it.
2015
He Allegedly Oversaw A Spying Operation on Senator Sarah Hanson Young
During a visit made by Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young to Nauru in 2013 – the same visit that ultimately uncovered systematic abuse taking place on the island – provisions were made to have Hanson-Young followed and surveilled. While Dutton denied any knowledge of the incident (even going so far as to call Hanson-Young an “embarrassment to our country” for bringing it up) “Operation Raven” as it was known was confirmed by Wilson Security – the very private security operator that oversees the infamous detention centre.
Peter Dutton Thinks Climate Change Is A Joke. Literally.
While standing next to Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott at a summit addressing the rapidly rising sea levels surrounding the Pacific Islands, Dutton decides to take the piss out of the very issue he was tasked with finding a solution for. Luckily for us, the whole thing was caught on camera. Bonus round: the expression on his face after Scott Morrison whispers “there’s a boom mic here” is priceless.
2016
Peter Dutton Got Caught Out Calling A Female Journalist A “Mad Witch”
Have you ever done that thing where you accidentally text the very person you’re talking shit about? No? Neither. But old mate Peter Dutton has. Dutton was intending to text his ousted chum Jamie Briggs (who left parliament for allegedly inappropriate conduct towards a female staffer) an insult towards Sunday Telegraph editor Samantha Maiden. She’s a “mad fucking witch”, texted Dutton. But here’s the thing – the gumnut hamfistedly sent it straight to Maiden herself.
2017
Peter Dutton Refuses to Take Accountability for Manus Island
From the get-go, Manus Island was an Australian atrocity. But in 2017, over 600 asylum seekers without food and water pleaded for Australians to come to their aide after a communication breakdown on Manus. The situation escalated to the point where even the United Nations began to call Australia out for breaching basic human rights. This, sadly, is one of the many atrocities that took place on Manus. But what was Immigration Minister Peter Dutton doing? He wasn’t listening to New Zealand – who were offering to resettle over 150 asylum seekers. Instead, he was wasting his time sledging the greens.
2018
Leads a Fearmongering Campaign Against “African Gangs”
Research has shown that Australia’s views on African immigration have been unfairly skewed by media-induced hysteria, in part born from fearmongering politicians. Enter: Peter Dutton. Victorians are “scared to go out to restaurants” because of “African gang violence”, according to Dutton. He, of course, said this knowing full well that only 1% of alleged criminal offenders in Victoria are Sudanese-born.
So, What’s Next For Australia?
All in all, this only scratches the surface of what Peter Dutton has been responsible for over the past ten years. It’s far from an exhaustive list – which is saying something, considering the number of decisions he’s been involved in ranging from the awkward to the inhumane.
Currently, the Liberal Party – and subsequently Australia’s parliament – is in an absolute state of disarray. But considering Australia’s revolving door of leaders over the past few years, are we really so surprised? What is surprising though, is our nation’s complacency when it comes to who leads our elected government.
Ask yourself this: is Peter Dutton really the right leader for our country, considering all he has done? Or is this just another revolving face, destined for failure, fronting a party that is being torn apart from the inside.
Australia deserves better. But until then, we at least deserve better than Peter Dutton.
