Who is Ali France? Meet the incoming Dickson MP who unseated Peter DuttonRBy Rachel StewartTopic:Elections39m ago39 minutes agoSat 3 May 2025 at 1:48pmAli France celebrates with father Peter Lawlor and son Zac. (AAP: Jono Searle)abc.net.au/news/ali-france-wins-dickson-against-dutton/105247972Link copiedShareShare articleOpposition Leader Peter Dutton has conceded defeat in Dickson to Labor's Ali France after her third attempt at winning the seat. So, who is Ali France? And what does she stand for? Triumph amid tragedy Ali France is a former journalist and para-athlete who has been campaigning for Labor in Dickson since the 2019 federal election. The disability advocate, who lives in Arana Hills, has campaigned on reducing the cost of healthcare and strengthening the NDIS and disability support.In 2011, her life was changed forever after she was pinned by a car in a shopping centre car park while with one of her sons.Ali France was in a horrific car accident. (AAP: Darren England)The accident almost claimed her life and resulted in one of her legs being amputated above the knee.In more tragedy, Ms France lost her eldest son Henry to leukaemia last year, spending 18 months by his side.The father of her children, Clive France, lost his battle with cancer in September 2023. Ms France told the ABC ahead of the election that her seven years of campaigning had given her a deep understanding of the key issues in the Dickson electorate."My issues are their issues. I'm a single mother, I have a disability, I have a mortgage, I'm struggling with the cost of living," she said."The things I want to address are the things they want to address."Ms France is the daughter of former state Labor MP Peter Lawlor and has previously said she did not consider a career in politics until her accident.'I was told that I didn't stand a chance'In her victory speech on Saturday night, Ms France acknowledged the outgoing member for Dickson and said facing him as a candidate was a tough prospect. "... in 2018 I was told that Dickson was not winnable and it wouldn't be winnable until Peter Dutton retired," Ms France said. "They said he was too popular, he was too well known... I was told that I didn't stand a chance." She said despite this, she decided to "give it a good crack anyway". She thanked her campaign team and volunteers and those who were no longer with her. Supporters celebrated at Kallangur Bowls club. (AAP: Jono Searle)"There hasn't been one day of this campaign that I haven't thought of and ... missed my Henry and I wish he was here," she said. "He never doubted this win was coming and was so insistent that I don't give up even to care for him."Dutton praises opponent as seats predicted to fallMr Dutton first won the seat of Dickson in 2001 and went into the election campaign on a thin margin of 1.7 per cent.Dutton says he takes 'full responsibility' for Coalition's loss. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)During his concession speech on Saturday night, Mr Dutton congratulated Ms France and apologised for the overall result. "We didn't do well enough in this campaign, that much is obvious," Mr Dutton said."There are good members and candidates who have lost their seats … and I am sorry for that."Mr Dutton said the seat had a "one-term curse" but he had held managed to hold it for 24 years."24 years is a long time in public life and that is an amazing honour," he said."I thank the Australian people for the faith they have placed in me."LNP forecast to lose seats, Greens to lose twoAs of Saturday evening, the Liberal National Party was forecast to lose more seats in its stronghold of Queensland.The ABC is projecting Labor candidate Matt Smith will win the far north Queensland seat of Leichhardt, previously held by the LNP.Matt Smith addressed supporters at the party function in Cairns. (ABC News: Christopher Testa)Mr Smith — a former NBL basketballer — said the campaign had been "an incredibly humbling experience".The ABC is also projecting Labor will gain Forde, Longman, Petrie and Bonner from the LNP.Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers is expected to retain his seat of Rankin.Three sitting MPs did not contest this election in Queensland — the LNP's Karen Andrews in McPherson on the southern Gold Coast, LNP's Warren Entsch in Leichhardt in Far North Queensland and Labor's Graham Perrett in Moreton in Brisbane's south-east.The ABC projected early on Saturday night that Nationals leader David Littleproud would retain his seat of Maranoa in south-west Queensland.It was the LNP's safest seat in the country, with Mr Littleproud holding it on a pre-election margin of 22.1 per cent.Election essentials:Federal election updates and live resultsAlbanese clinches Labor "win for the ages" as Dutton loses his seatWhat was the result in your seat? Look up the map of your regionKatter's Australian Party's Bob Katter is expected to retain his seat of Kennedy located in the northern outback of Queensland.Meanwhile, the Greens are in a precarious place in Brisbane and Griffith after winning three lower house seats in Queensland at the 2022 Federal election.Posted 39m ago39 minutes agoSat 3 May 2025 at 1:48pm, updated 18m ago18 minutes agoSat 3 May 2025 at 2:09pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLABOR WINS ELECTIONTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds up his hands to calm the crowd.What was the result in your seat? Look up the map of your regionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows An illustration of the map of Australia with multicoloured lines behind itSurge in support for independents in the ACT as David Pocock re-electedTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A side by side image of a man and a womanSenior Liberal slams 'diabolical result' as Labor wins SA marginal seatsTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Two women hold up signs that say 'I'm backing Claire' at Labor celebration after the federal electionLiberal wipeout in northern Tasmania as seats flip to LaborTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Jess Teesdale stands alongside volunteers after winning seat of BassRelated storiesPeter Dutton concedes he has lost his seat of DicksonTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Liberal leader Peter Dutton walks off the stage after his concession speech.What are the most interesting seats in Queensland this election?Topic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A graphic which shows peter dutton with two women behind himDutton's 'struggle street' seat the most marginal in QueenslandTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows An election sign for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in the seat of Dickson.Related topicsArana HillsAustralian Federal ElectionsBrisbaneCedar CreekElectionsFerny HillsMurrumba DownsSamfordVotingTop StoriesLABOR WINS ELECTIONTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Anthony Albanese holds up his hands to calm the crowd.What was the result in your seat? Look up the map of your regionTopic:ElectionsSurge in support for independents in the ACT as David Pocock re-electedTopic:ElectionsSenior Liberal slams 'diabolical result' as Labor wins SA marginal seatsTopic:ElectionsLiberal wipeout in northern Tasmania as seats flip to LaborTopic:ElectionsJust InWho is Ali France? Meet the incoming Dickson MP who unseated Peter DuttonTopic:Elections18m ago18 minutes agoSat 3 May 2025 at 2:09pm'Stop drinking the Kool-Aid': Liberals face Melbourne wipeoutTopic:Elections14m ago14 minutes agoSat 3 May 2025 at 2:13pm'Dreadful, deluded and doomed': Dutton's night of the living deadJAnalysis by Jacob Greber27m ago27 minutes agoSat 3 May 2025 at 2:00pmLandslide win for Albanese and Labor as Dutton loses seatTopic:Elections1h ago1 hours agoSat 3 May 2025 at 1:14pmMore Just InBack to top