Inside Dickson: A Look at Coalition Leader Peter Dutton's Battleground Electorate

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 23: A commuter reacts to the his photo being taken at a train station on April 23, 2025 in the suburb of Strathpine in Brisbane, Australia. Nestled in the outer north-western suburbs of Brisbane, the federal seat of Dickson is one of the most closely watched electorates in Australia's 2025 election, not only for its marginal status but also because it is held by Peter Dutton, the leader of the opposition and a key contender for the prime ministership. Covering 724 square kilometres and encompassing a mix of residential suburbs like Albany Creek, Strathpine, and Petrie, as well as rural pockets and lakes, Dickson reflects the diversity and complexity of contemporary Australia—balancing urban growth, infrastructure needs, and the pressures of cost-of-living. Since 2001, Dutton has represented Dickson, but his hold on the seat remains precarious: he retained it by just 1.7 percent in 2022, making it the most marginal federal seat in Queensland and a focal point for both major parties and a growing independent movement. As the nation heads to the polls on May 3, Dickson stands at the crossroads of local and national politics, its voters weighing not only the promises of their high-profile MP but also the broader direction of Australia's future. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)