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3 months ago
15
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's son has been photographed holding a clear zip lock bag containing a small amount of 'white powder'.
Tom Dutton, 18, was pictured with what was described as a 'birthday day treat' on the balcony of a Surfers Paradise apartment on the Gold Coast, in Queensland.
The teen was snapped facing the camera, holding a bag in his right hand.
The photo was posted to a friend of Tom Dutton's Snapchat account with the caption 'Birthday day treat. Hello how u goin'.
Daily Mail Australia doesn't suggest the white substance is drugs.
Tom Dutton, 18, was pictured with with what was described as a 'birthday day treat' at an apartment in Surfer's Paradise on the Gold Coast
When asked about the photo, Mr Dutton's office told the Daily Telegraph: 'This is a private matter for the Dutton family'.
The image was deleted shortly after it was shared, but a screenshot snapped by one of the recipients has continued to circulate online.
Snapchat is popular among young people because posts usually disappear after they have been read.
Recipients can screenshot posts, but the person who shared it will be notified.
Mr Dutton previously hit out at soft drug laws, saying 'the ACT government is rolling out the red carpet for drug use and more crime.'
'It is effectively welcoming more ice, heroin, cocaine, MDMA and speed on our streets,' he said in September.
When asked about the photo, Mr Dutton's office said: 'This is a private matter for the Dutton family'
When Mr Dutton applied to become the Liberal Opposition leader in 2022, he shared a photo of his family.
'We believe in families – whatever their composition,' he said in a statement.
The former police officer said he knows that hard-working law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to keep drugs off the streets and to keep our community safe.
'I've had tough jobs – firstly as a policeman dealing with serious sexual assaults and murders, to home affairs minister where I deported drug traffickers and child sex offenders,' he said.
'Most people have only seen that side of me. 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. 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 come from.'
Mr Dutton with his family on re-election night
More to come.
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