Wednesday 25 May 2022 04:10 PM Peter Dutton plans to soften his hardman image as he bids for Liberal Party ... trends now

Peter Dutton has revealed he will show a softer, more caring side to his personality if he becomes the next Liberal leader. 

The former defence minister is favoured to succeed Scott Morrison after other possible candidates either lost their seats in the election, or pulled out of the race.

He formally launched his bid for the Liberal Party leadership on Wednesday, promising to bring together moderate and conservative wings.

He said that while the public had grown accustomed to seeing him in 'tough portfolios' like defence and home affairs, he hoped to show them a different side.

'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,' he said. 

'The side my community sees where they have elected me eight times. I come from the suburbs and I have never changed my values or forgotten where I have come from.'

His wife Kirilly, a successful businesswoman, gave her insight into the man vying to step into the leadership role, revealing that he has a 'great sense of humour'.

She said he was incredibly compassionate, especially when it came to the protection of women and children.

'He hides a lot of his emotion from the public but he gets most upset at reports of children or women being sexually abused or harmed. It obviously stems from his time as a policeman working in that area, but it's also from being the eldest of five kids growing up in the suburbs,' she said.

Mrs Dutton is standing side by side with her husband on the journey that is expected to see him announced as the next Liberal leader as soon as

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