Anthony Albanese has defended Tanya Plibersek on Sunrise after she likened the incoming Opposition Leader to the bald-headed Harry Potter villain ‘Voldemort’, arguing that Scott Morrison also teased him about his appearance in the past.
The senior Labor MP came under fire for the brutal Peter Dutton insult with some media commentators calling her comments ‘nasty’.
The woman expected to become the nation’s new Education Minister following Labor historic election win, said a lot of children who have watched the films will be very ‘frightened’ of the former Defence Minister.
‘I am saying he looks a bit like Voldemort and we will see whether he can do what he promised he would do when he was last running for leader, which is smile more,’ Ms Plibersek told 4BC radio.
Peter Dutton (pictured), who is expected to be the next leader of the Liberal Party, has been compared to Harry Potter’s archenemy Voldemort, by senior Labor MP Tanya Plibersek
Channel Seven morning show host Natalie Barr on Thursday grilled the new Prime Minister about whether he plans to ‘pull her into line?’ adding that if the comments were made against a woman there would be ‘hell to pay’.
‘She has already apologised for those comments,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘There are a few comments made by the former Prime Minister about my appearance you might recall as part of the election campaign. We should not refer to people’s appearance, let’s discuss policy differences.
Mr Albanese said he’s ‘dead serious’ about changing the way politics operates in this country but also understands that ‘people make mistakes’.
‘When they make a mistake they should apologise and we move on,’ he said.
‘That’s one of the ways that we can change the way that politics operates and Tanya has done the appropriate thing here.’
Tanya Plibersek (right) is pictured with her husband Michael Coutts-Trotter (left). Ms Plibersek is under fire for a comment she made about Peter Dutton’s looks
Anthony Albanese (right) has defended Tanya Plibersek on Sunrise (Natalie Barr left beside David Koch) after she likened the incoming Opposition Leader to the bald-headed Harry Potter villain ‘Voldemort’, arguing that Scott Morrison also teased him about his appearance in the past
Speaking to the ABC during his morning TV blitz, Mr Albanese detailed the remarks the former PM made about him in the lead up to the election.
‘Scott Morrison had a whole show that seemed to be devoted into an analysis of my glasses or whether I lost weight or what I look like. We can do better than that,’ he said.
He also surprised TV hosts by saying he has a good personal relationship with Peter Dutton.
‘He has never broken a confidence or his word to me. That is a good place to start and,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘I certainly have an improved relationship with the future leader of the Liberal Party, I think. If that occurs. I wish him well. I want to work across the parliament, wherever possible.’
On Monday Mr Albanese was sworn in as Prime Minister before jetting off to the Quad leaders’ summit in Tokyo. Pictured left to right: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Mr Albanese has hit the ground running since storming to victory in Saturday’s election.
On Monday he was sworn in as Prime Minister before jetting off to the Quad leaders’ summit in Tokyo.
The regional security partnership includes Australia, the US, Japan and India and is aimed at countering Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.
US President Joe Biden praised Mr Albanese’s stamina on his first day in the job.
‘You got sworn in, got on a plane and if you fall asleep while you’re here, it’s OK because I don’t know how you’re doing it,’ he said.
‘It’s really quite extraordinary just getting off the campaign trail as well.
US President Joe Biden praised Mr Albanese’s stamina on his first day in the job (pictured together at the Quad meeting)
‘Congratulations on your election. When you won and I called you, we greatly appreciate your commitment on being here so soon after taking office.’
Upon his return to Australia the Prime Minister called the whirlwind trip a great success but admitted he’s still getting used to his title.
‘It really hit home when people start to call you Prime Minister and you realise that you are not looking around for someone else, it’s actually you,’ he told Sunrise.
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