Dutton accepts responsibility for election loss, wishes Albanese well
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The news: Outgoing opposition leader Peter Dutton, who has lost his own seat, has taken full responsibility for the party’s loss to Labor in the federal election and apologised to his colleagues who have also lost, in a concession speech to Coalition supporters.
The details: Dutton, at points appearing to fight back tears, said he had called Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to wish him and his partner Jodie and son Nathan all the best, and told him that his mother would have been proud of his achievement.
He said he had also spoken with his Labor opponent in Dickson, Ali France, who dislodged him from his seat, which he had held since 2001. Dutton noted that France had tragically lost her son, and that he too would be proud of her.
What they said: "One of the great honours of being the leader of this party is that we have met people from every side and every corner, the length and breadth of this country, and there are many amazing stories.
"People have sacrificed and the people who are doing it hard at the moment and I have always wanted, in public life, for our country, the best for every Australian.
“The highlight of my career has been as the defence minister and over the course of this campaign, on Anzac Day, we caught up with young veterans in Townsville at the RSL, and it reminded me of how lucky we are as a country.
"I want to acknowledge all of those men and women in uniform ... who keep us safe. We did not do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that."
The source: Peter Dutton concession speech
