Listen: Tanya Plibersek compares Peter Dutton to Voldemort

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to Tanya Plibersek’s sledge against Coalition leader-in-waiting Peter Dutton, saying he was ‘dead serious’ in wanting a change in Australia’s political discourse. LISTEN NOW

Senior federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek has made a stunning sledge at the appearance of Coalition leader-in-waiting Peter Dutton, comparing him to a Harry Potter villain.

With Queensland-based Mr Dutton expected to take the reins of the Liberal Party after its election annihilation at the weekend, Ms Plibersek told Brisbane radio 4BC: “I think there are a lot of children who’ve watched a lot of Harry Potter films who’ll be very frightened of what they’re seeing on TV at night, that’s for sure.”

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Host and former state Liberal National MP Scott Emerson replied: “What, you’re saying he looks strange, looks odd?”

Ms Plibersek replied: “I’m saying he looks a bit like Voldemort, and we’ll see if he can do what he promised he’d do when he was last running for leader, which is smile more.”

Returning from his successful first overseas trip for the Quad summit, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was questioned on Ms Plibersek’s comments during an appearance on breakfast television.

“We should not refer to people’s appearance,” Mr Albanese told Sunrise.

“Let’s discuss policy differences … I want to change the way politics operates in this country … I’m dead serious about it”.

“People, when they make a mistake, they should apologise and we move on,” he said.

“She has already apologised for those comments.”

“Tanya has done the appropriate thing here.”

Mr Albanese said that he would prefer to focus political conversations on policy rather than the physical appearance of politicians.

“There were a few comments made by the former Prime Minister about my appearance, you might recall, as part of the election campaign,” he said.

A spokesman for Ms Plibersek last night said she had contacted Mr Dutton immediately to make an unreserved apology, and wish him luck in his new role.

It comes after West Australian Labor Premier Mark McGowan branded Mr Dutton a conservative “extremist” who “doesn’t fit modern Australia”.

This led to a satirical front page in The West Australian with Mr McGowan as Harry Potter and Mr Dutton as Voldemort.

It also follows former prime minister Scott Morrison mocking his challenger Anthony Albanese’s makeover for the recent election campaign.

“I’m not pretending to be anyone else,” Mr Morrison said at the time.

“I’m still wearing the same sunglasses. Sadly, the same suits. I weigh about the same size and I don’t mind a bit of Italian cake either … I’m not pretending to be anyone else.”

Mr Albanese’s office was approached for comment.

Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series

Originally published as Listen: Tanya Plibersek compares Peter Dutton to Voldemort