Sussan Ley says Coalition to honour Peter Dutton’s legacy by winning back Dickson and ‘every other seat we lost’

Former federal opposition leader Peter Dutton has ruled out any political comeback, telling reporters he is “too old for that” after receiving a standing ovation at the LNP’s state convention in Brisbane. The comment came as delegates debated controversial motions on pokies, conversion therapy laws, gender-affirming care for children, and the Coalition’s stance on net zero. Mr Dutton, who lost both the May 3 election and his seat of Dickson, sat quietly at the back of the convention hall as federal Liberal leader Sussan Ley paid tribute to her predecessor. The Opposition Leader described Mr Dutton as a man of “courage, commitment and conviction,” before urging members to give him a standing ovation. “I want to take a moment Peter to once more acknowledge you from the front lines as a Queensland Police officer to the heights of national leadership, your record is one of courage, commitment and conviction,” she said. “I’m proud to have been your deputy for three years. It’s one of the greatest professional privileges of my life. “You’ve been a great friend, a source of strength, wisdom and advice over many years, I was so proud to have you lead us. And our parliamentary team was proud to have you lead us.” Following the speech, Mr Dutton said Ms Ley’s words were “very humbling” before being questioned about the prospect of a political comeback. “I’ve dedicated almost a quarter of a century to this party and love our state and our country,” Mr Dutton said. “I will always do everything I can to see the best days ahead of us. But no, mate, I’m too old for that. “I think Sussan’s doing a great job, and David Littleproud, and people will see more and more policy coming forward.” After vowing to leave politics with a dignified silence, Mr Dutton has largely kept to the pledge bar a tweet celebrating the ousting of former Greens leader Adam Bandt. But the convention also highlighted tensions within the party. Delegates voted for the federal Coalition to abandon its commitment to net-zero emissions despite Ms Ley warning that modernising was essential to win back urban voters. Nationals senator Matt Canavan told members the “net-zero agenda is not working”, while Nationals MP Llew O’Brien said pursuing it was “illogical” given the actions of major polluters overseas. Grassroots members debated more than 150 motions over the two-day gathering, including calls to ban poker machines from pubs and clubs, bring back national service, and remove Welcome to Country ceremonies from dawn services. Others sought to ban gender-affirming care for children, repeal conversion therapy laws, and water down anti-discrimination protections. The Lilley electorate council said pokies were fuelling “addiction, family breakdown and financial ruin”, while Toowoomba North members pushed for a “biological definition” of sex in federal law. Premier David Crisafulli, who used last year’s convention to launch his “adult crime, adult time” law-and-order pitch, urged the party to steer clear of divisive culture war debates despite their presence on the agenda. He has repeatedly insisted the LNP “does not exist for culture wars”. Outgoing party president Lawrence Springborg reminded delegates that if other states had matched Queensland’s result in May, Peter Dutton would have been prime minister. For Ms Ley, however, the path back to government rests on modernising the Liberal Party brand. Acknowledging the Coalition’s historically poor election performance on May 3, Ms Ley said they would “honour” Mr Dutton’s legacy “not by looking backward, but by winning back Dickson and every other seat we lost”. “The Australian people sent us a message, and we have heard it.” Ms Ley said. “We will not wimp out.” She said Queensland was the “launch pad” for the opposition’s return to leadership, with the Coalition holding 16 out of the state’s 30 seats Urging members to not “look backward in anger,” she urged members to not give Labor the “satisfaction” of seeing the party “divided and despondent”. She added that the party would “broad our appeal” and flagged the upcoming election review by Pru Goward and Nick Minchin will offer “frank findings”. “The Australian people sent us a message and we have heard it. Too many voters, particularly in our urban centres, could not see themselves in today’s Liberal Party,” she said. “That must change. We must modernise. We must broaden our appeal. We must reflect the country we seek to govern.” Key to the Coalition’s return to government, a prospect that seems distant given the opposition’s currently paltry 43 seats dwarfed by Labor’s 94, is also a “complete economic policy”. “At the next election the Coalition will present a complete economic policy, not a grab bag of slogans, but a fully integrated plan that maintains the best of our current system while restoring balance and fairness,” she said, while taking aim at the Labor’s roundtable. “A fair and balanced economic policy drives productivity, supports viable businesses, attracts investment, encourages aspiration and lifts living standards.” Boosting housing, making mental health care as a “core business for our health system,” improving women’s safety and support for domestic violence prevention, and removing the ban on nuclear energy were other policy priorities.