Federal election 2025: Dutton quizzed over who should be next Liberal leader but says he wants ‘graceful exit’

Peter Dutton says he is very grateful for all the good wishes and messages of support he has received since Saturday night’s election bloodbath for the Liberals.

Returning to the capital to pack up his office, he told reporters at Canberra Airport he had spoken to colleagues who had lost their seats in the landslide result.

“I just want to say thank you very much to all those who offered their good wishes, and there are a lot of people who’ve been very kind and generous in their remarks,” he said.

“The Liberal Party rebuilds from here, and that’s as it should be. So I wish them all the very best.”

Asked how that rebuild should happen and who should be the next leader, he said that was an issue for the remaining colleagues.

“The best model I’ve seen is where leaders, former, make a graceful exit from politics and maintain their graceful silence, so that’ll be my model,” he said.