Up next
Author
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
Ali France, the newly elected Labor MP, expressed her feelings after securing the Queensland seat of Dickson from former Opposition leader Peter Dutton.
In response to being asked about her feelings on “slaying a dragon”, she summed it up in one word: “grateful”.
“I thank the people of Dickson, regardless of whether you voted for me or not, or if you supported Labor for the first time. I’m genuinely very grateful,” she shared with Sky News.
France, who ran for the seat for the third time, acknowledged that the win was “a bit unexpected”.

“I anticipated a much closer race than it turned out to be, but I remained hopeful,” France stated.

In his, Dutton said he had called France and said she will “do a good job as a local member”.
The major win comes after a tough year, having lost her eldest son Henry to leukaemia early last year.
France said her late son’s strength has been a motivator throughout her campaign.
“He would say to me, No, Mum, you have to do this… I know you’re going to win this time,” she said.

“I feel he’s been with me throughout this journey. Even though it’s been challenging, I’ve continually thought about his strength in his journey, which has motivated me.”

Who is Ali France?
France is a single mother-of-two who has been working in the community for the past seven years.
She became passionate about pursuing politics following her difficulties navigating the healthcare system after being hit by a car as a pedestrian and losing a leg in 2011.

Her younger son, Zac, who was with her at the time of the accident, was seen with his mum casting her vote today.

A woman in a red blazer putting a piece of paper into a ballot box.

Labor’s Ali France, with her son Zac, votes at Albany Creek State School in Moreton Bay, Queensland. Source: AAP / Jono Searle

On election morning, France spoke to SBS News’ Andrew Chappelle that she felt hopeful but that a result her way would not come from luck.

“We’ve worked exceptionally hard for seven years in this seat … People know me, they know what I stand for.”

In March, France mentioned to SBS News that she believed Dutton was “out of touch” with the concerns of the Dickson community, particularly with issues like traffic congestion.

“He hasn’t supported any cost of living relief and that’s probably the biggest issue in this community,” she said.
“We’ve [Labor] delivered lots of cost of living relief, including tax cuts for all workers, free TAFE, cheaper childcare, cheaper medicines, invested a heap into Medicare.”
Last election, single mother-of-two Ali France tightened the race in Dickson, gaining a 2.94 per cent swing that saw Labor achieve 48.3 per cent of the vote after preferences.
Last election, France tightened the race in Dickson to a slim 1.7 percent — making it
Dutton is the first Opposition leader to lose his seat during an election.
Prime ministers have lost their seats at elections before, notably former Liberal leader John Howard, who lost his seat of Bennelong in the 2007 election.
For the latest from SBS News, and .
Visit the to access articles, podcasts and videos from SBS News, NITV and our teams covering more than 60 languages. 
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
You May Also Like

Unraveling the Mysteries: What We Know and Don’t About the Alleged Bondi Gunmen’s Activities in the Philippines

Part of the investigation into Sunday’s Bondi Beach massacre involves the trip…
Inaccurate glucose readings pose direct risks. A falsely high reading may cause a diabetic to miss a dangerous low reading, while a falsely low reading can prompt an insulin overdose and severe hypoglycemia (stock)

Critical Alert: Faulty Diabetic Monitors Recalled Across 17 Countries – What You Need to Know

Abbott, a global leader in healthcare solutions, has initiated an extensive recall…
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Coast Guard's logo is seen on an helicopter on the deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton at Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. November 22, 2021. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo

Breaking News: US Seizes Another Vessel Near Venezuela – What It Means for International Maritime Policy

Personnel from the United States boarded and seized a vessel off the…

Bondi Lifesaver Ahmed Al-Ahmed Questions Merit of $2.5 Million Donation

Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the tobacco shop owner who was wounded after disarming one…
NSW Premier Chris Minns

Premier Addresses Planned Protests with Urgent Message on Public Safety

Chris Minns, who is pushing for parliament to grant “extraordinary powers” to…

Donald Trump Confronts Internal Criticism Over Epstein Document Redactions

Extensive redactions and the partial release of documents related to convicted sex…

Misinformation Regarding Bondi Incident Leads to Vilification of Pakistani Australians

As misinformation tore through social media in the aftermath of the Bondi…
The final missing piece of the creature to be found was the beak and the three arms (pictured) which washed onto shore last Thursday

Unveiling Scotland’s Mystical Find: The Rare ‘7-Legged’ Octopus That Inspired Demogorgon Legends

Visitors to a Scottish beach were astounded by the discovery of a…
The world's longest flight recently took its first journey, taking 29 hours and covering 12,400 miles. And while it may seem like a nightmare to some, it has been celebrated as a landmark success for long-haul travellers who no longer need to take a connecting flight. Launched on December 4, the China Eastern Airlines route sets off from Shanghai and lands in Buenos Aires. The flight from China to Argentina takes more than 25 hours, with the return journey taking four hours longer.

Record-Breaking 12,400-Mile Flight Sets New Benchmark for Longest Journey

The world’s longest commercial flight has officially taken off, marking a significant…
Claudio Neves Valente, the suspect in Brown University shooting, at a rental car place in Boston, Massachusetts.

Reddit Sleuths Aid Police in Capturing Elusive Brown University Shooter: A Digital Manhunt

Police lights flashed for hours as law enforcement officers surrounded a storage…
Patients with an aggressive form of breast cancer could soon save thousands of dollars every month as the government prepares to cover the cost of crucial medication.

Life-Saving Cancer Medication Soon Available Through Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Patients battling an aggressive type of breast cancer might soon see significant…
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 21: A general view of Bondi Beach at dawn as early light breaks on December 21, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. Life slowly returned to normal at Bondi Beach, with people from all walks of life still paying respects and tributes as raw grief and funerals gave way to quiet commemorations. Police say at least 16 people, including one suspected gunman, were killed and more than 40 others injured when two attackers opened fire near a Hanukkah celebration at the world-famous B

Australians Unite in Grief: Commemorating One Week Since Tragic Bondi Incident That Claimed 15 Lives

At precisely 6:47 PM AEDT, exactly a week after the tragic incident,…