Dutton lashed for leaving Queensland ahead of cyclone for billionaire’s fundraiser

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged $1 million in recovery grants to every local council affected by Cyclone Alfred, staying above the fray as his ministers lash Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s decision to fly from Queensland to Sydney on Tuesday for a fundraiser in a harbourside mansion.

Dutton gave a press conference on Tuesday morning at Queensland’s Emergency Management Centre in Brisbane but Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the opposition leader left a briefing on the cyclone’s progress at the centre early. Dutton then flew to Sydney for a community event and a fundraiser at billionaire pub and club boss Justin Hemmes waterfront Vaucluse home, Hermitage.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a press conference in the National Situation Room in Canberra.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said reports of Dutton’s decision to leave Queensland, first published in The Australian Financial Review’s Rear Window column, were “very disappointing”.

“That’s for Peter Dutton to explain. I went to that briefing on Tuesday at [the emergency management centre in] Kedron and he was leaving as I was arriving,” Chalmers said on 4BC radio. “But I assure all your listeners and I assure you that our focus has been on the disaster. I hope his has been as well, because we all need all shoulders to the wheel. Every level of government, both sides of politics, need to be doing what we can.”

Dutton’s spokeswoman said only “he is in Brisbane” when contacted for comment. His spokesman confirmed to News Limited outlets that he had attended the fundraiser and said he had gone to previous briefings on the cyclone. The opposition leader’s electorate of Dickson, on the northwestern fringe of Brisbane, is forecast to be in Cyclone Alfred’s path.

Chalmers’ electorate of Logan is also in the cyclone’s path. The treasurer was in Canberra on Monday for a cabinet meeting and flew to Brisbane that night.

In an interview with 4BC, which is a Queensland station, on Wednesday morning, Dutton said he had not fully prepared his home for the cyclone but would be helping relatives in the area that day. “I haven’t taped up the windows, I haven’t been that organised, but it’s something we should consider, actually,” Dutton said.

“I’ve got an elderly aunt who lives not too far away from us, so going to do some sandbagging at her place later on today,” Dutton said.