Perrottet and his wife spoke to Nine’sя╗┐ Peter Overton about their high-flying careers, bubbly children and a private pain the family has been coping with.
In the middle of an election campaign, Perrottet made the rare appearance of testing his skills on the kitchen stove to make breakfast – which, his wife remarked, was a “lovely luxury”.
But as the family sat down to enjoy bacon and egg rolls, it was time to get serious.
When asked how the family was feeling a few weeks out from election day, Perrottet said it has been a busy time.
“Good. It’s a lot of fun being on the road, you take things in good humour but it’s a busy time,” Perrottet said.
But for Helen, it is just “business as usual” at home.
“Our kids are pretty unfazed by everything – they think it’s funny when people make a big deal about it to them,” she said.
As for switching from thinking about policy at work to coming home to spend time with the family, Perrottet said it isn’t easy to balance the two.
“It’s not easy, whether it’s politics or any job,” he said.
“I think it’s a real challenge that all parents face, today, balancing work and family life.”
Perrottet said despite fighting to be a premier and government for families, the job has meant he has to sacrifice some things.
“Take this weekend – my son’s on his first father and son camp – so I drove him there last night. All the dads are there with their kids. And I had to drop him off,┬аset him up and leave,” he said.
He said while his son understood why he couldn’t stay, it was still difficult.
Even though Perrottet holds state politics’ most sought-after job, Helen said her husband always tries to make time for the children.
“It depends on what’s going on. If things are blowing up at work it’s a little bit harder. But when he can, he’ll spend hours building a Lego ship or playing basketball with the kids.”
Helen, who is a former Australian Federal Police officer, military police officer, political adviser, and now a lawyer and major in the Army reserve, says all of that is nothing to raising seven children.
“Looking after seven kids is my proudest achievement – and yes, that training does help,” she said.
Perrottet joked it can be a little military-like in the household.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the family.
Helen shared the heartbreak they’ve been through which has become a spark for the couple’s push for change.
“We’ve lost three kids, which was horrific,” Helen said.
“When I had my first miscarriage, I was working at the time.┬а
“They said you can take a week off or whatever but you have to take sick leave.┬а
“No, it should be bereavement leave.
“I’ve just lost a member of my family … I couldn’t understand why they were treating it as sick leave.”
Perrottet said: “Seeing the grief and pain that Helen went through, we wanted to do something and that’s why we set up miscarriage leave in the public service and we’re going to do more and provide further counselling and support services for women who have a miscarriage.”
Even through the immensely difficult experience, the pair always makes time for each other and their guilty pleasures.
Perrottet shared that every Monday is date night and their guilty pleasure is British comedy.
“The ‘Brittier’, the better,” Helen said.
When Helen was asked if there was ever a moment she wished Perrottet wouldn’t succeed in the polls and returned to give the household his full attention, she paused.
“As a voter, I’d prefer that he won because I think he’s better for the state,” she said.
“Whatever job he’s in, he’s gonna give it his all.
“He’s going to work hard to make a difference in people’s lives.
“As long as he keeps getting his priorities right then inside politics or outside politics, it’s fine with me.”
There was one caveat though: no federal politics.
Watch the full interview with Dominic Perrottet and his family above.
