Tanya’s classy response to Dutton’s scandal

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has defended Peter Dutton’s son after a leaked social media photo pictured him holding a bag of “white powder”.

The image, which was first reported by the Herald Sun, made newspaper front pages on Tuesday morning.

Originally shared on Tom’s Snapchat and quickly deleted, the photo of 18-year-old Tom Dutton featured him facing the camera holding the clear bag with the caption: “Birthday day treat. Hello how u goin”.

NewsWire is not suggesting the white substance was drugs.

The Opposition Leader’s office has also refused to comment on the matter, releasing a one-sentence statement that it is a “private matter for the Dutton family”.

Appearing on Today on Tuesday morning, Ms Plibersek was asked by host Karl Stefanovic what she made of the image, to which she expressed empathy for the families of public figures.

“I’ve got no comment at all. Peter Dutton’s a public figure, but his son’s not,” she said.

Stefanovic continued to press her: “Can you imagine the embarrassment from the poor kid? I mean, already his dad is the Opposition Leader … he’s a former cop … and (Tom) ends up on the front page of the paper.

“Kids have to suffer with high profile parents, don’t they?”

In response, Ms Plibersek, herself a mum of three and formerly served as the Opposition Deputy Leader, conceded it wasn’t “an easy life” for the children of politicians.

“There’s nothing more embarrassing than being out with your mum and being stopped at the shops for people wanting to have a chat,” she said.

“It’s not an easy life. We go into public life and we choose it. Our families don’t choose it, that’s for sure.”

Later appearing on the breakfast program, National Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie said she hadn’t spoken to Mr Dutton since the story broke on Monday night and said it was “clearly a private matter”.

“I think families are conscripts to politics,” she said.

“I wouldn’t want to be making any comments. Obviously, the only public comments that have been made is that it will be dealt with privately.”