Question time: Scott Morrison defends ‘bullets’ remark about Australian democracy

The Prime Minister has defended his comments about the March 4 Justice rally during question time on Tuesday.

Scott Morrison has repeated his remark that it was a triumph protesters outside Parliament House were not “met with bullets” on Monday.

The Prime Minister was blasted over the comments about the March 4 Justice rally, attended by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who alleges she was raped by a colleague in a ministerial office in 2019.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese used Question Time on Tuesday to ramp up the attack on Mr Morrison, asking if he regretted making the comment on the second anniversary of the Christchurch massacre.

But Mr Morrison slammed Mr Albanese, saying he did not deserve to be in office.

“The leader of the Opposition has engaged, I think, in a very unworthy, a very unworthy and egregious slur,” Mr Morrison said in a spray.

“What issues does the leader of the Opposition have with celebrating democracy and the right to protest?”

Mr Morrison on Monday told the parliament that “not far from here, such marches, even now are being met with bullets”.

“But not here in this country,” he said.

“This is a triumph of democracy when we see these things take place.”

Thousands of people attended the Women's March 4 Justice Rally at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

However, the opposition’s attack did not stop there.

Mr Morrison was asked why he had not asked his staff whether they had sought to undermine Ms Higgins’ loved ones – following reports of a smear – and why he still had a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

The Prime Minister dismissed the question.

But went on to show he was also prepared to get his hands dirty – when asked about embattled Attorney-General Christian Porter – later dredging up historical rape allegations involving former Labor leader Bill Shorten.

Mr Shorten denied the allegations and police concluded there was no case to answer.

“It’s a matter of consistency. As the member for Maribyrnong rightly said at the time … the police had completed their work, they’ve made their decisions and now I think it is appropriate to draw a line under the matter,” Mr Morrison said.

The move, which Mr Morrison relied on repeatedly as he responded to opposition grilling, was followed by outbursts from MPs on the both sides of the house.

Bill Shorten denied the allegations and police concluded there was no case to answer. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Shorten sat quietly on a bench at the top of the horseshoe, and when his eyes were not staring at the ceiling as he waited for the Prime Minister to finish, his head lolled from side to side.

Mr Morrison went on to accuse Labor of double standards, saying concerns had also been raised about the conduct of members in its party.

“When they stand in glass houses, they should not be throwing these types of stones,” Mr Morrison said.

He also revealed that Mr Porter – when he returns from medical leave next month – would not perform certain functions of his office relating to the Federal Court or the ABC in order to avoid any conflicts of interest that may arise.

The move follows Mr Porter launching a defamation case against the public broadcaster and its journalist Louise Milligan over a story about a historical rape allegation involving a serving cabinet minister.

Mr Porter, who almost a week later outed himself as the minister at the centre of the allegations, denies the claims, with his lawyers arguing he was subjected to “trial by media”.