Front page shows brutal problem for new Liberal leader Peter Dutton
Peter Dutton will become the new leader of the Liberal Party on Monday, set to take the mantle when Scott Morrison officially steps down after a crushing election defeat.
With no other candidates vying for the leadership, it'll be an easy win for the Queensland MP and former police officer.
But the role of Opposition leader, and the task of steering the party back into government, will be anything but easy.
Monday's front page of The West Australian newspaper shows just how much work he has to do to win over the Australian public. Of 1354 people surveyed by the paper, just 19 per cent of readers said he should lead the party.
The Liberals were decimated in WA at the recent election, losing five seats. But elsewhere in the country, the assessment of Mr Dutton is hardly better.
Over the weekend the Financial Review published a survey of its readers with 57 per cent of respondents saying Mr Dutton was not the best person to lead the Liberal Party.
Only 11 per cent thought he was the best person for the job without qualification as 24 per cent said he was the best option because there was no alternative candidate standing up (8 per cent didn't know).
Former Environment Minister Sussan Ley is expected to take the position of Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.
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Peter Dutton vows to represent the 'forgotten people'
Mr Dutton, a former police officer, spruiked his credentials for the job of opposition leader following his nomination.
"In a prime minister you need someone who won't buckle in hard times and will stand up for our country and I have proven that in the portfolios I've had," he wrote on Facebook.
"My work ethic is second to none and I have the skill and experience having served five leaders and have learnt from each."
In his post, Mr Dutton vowed Australians would see another side to his character, after having held difficult portfolios.
"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."
Mr Dutton also pledges to take the party back to its core values, and represent the aspirational "forgotten people" regarded as the nation's middle class.
"We aren't the Moderate Party. We aren't the Conservative Party. We are Liberals," the post reads.
The Liberal Party has never had a leader from Queensland since it was founded in 1944.
The Nationals will also hold a leadership ballot on Monday with David Littleproud and Darren Chester vying to knock over Barnaby Joyce in a three-way contest.
with AAP
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