Peter Dutton has demanded an apology from one of Anthony Albanese’s ministers after she accused him of ‘protecting pedophiles’.
Embattled Home Secretary Clare O’Neil first leveled the smear against Mr Dutton on Wednesday and it was echoed by Sports Minister Anika Wells on live breakfast television on Thursday.
Mr Dutton, a former police officer who has long been an outspoken advocate for child safety, denounced the comments, saying they showed the government was “getting really desperate”.
“I’ve arrested sex offenders before. It is one of my life’s passions to ensure that women and children are safe. I feel very sincere and deep about it.
“I think I owe an apology from Anika Wells and the Prime Minister.”
Approval ratings for Mr Albanese and his cabinet are falling and Labor now votes 50:50 with the opposition, on a two-party basis, according to the latest Newspoll.
Mr Dutton, a former police officer who has long been an outspoken advocate for child safety, lashed out at the comments, saying they showed the government was “getting really desperate”.
And in an attempt to shift the blame for the High Court debacle, which saw the release of 141 asylum seekers from indefinite detention, to the community, several ministers have tried to link Mr Dutton to the case that sparked this everything.
The Supreme Court ruled on November 8 that the indefinite detention of pedophile rapist Rohingya asylum seeker NZYQ was unconstitutional, prompting the Labor government to release dozens of asylum seekers.
Mr Dutton sensationally suggested on Thursday that NZYQ was the only detainee to be released following the decision, and that the government had pre-emptively released the remaining 140 people when it did not need to.
“The government has completely botched this,” he told Ray Hadley.
‘The government itself made a decision about the remaining approximately 140, while that was not necessary.
‘No wonder they’re panicking. This is a complete disaster.’
Embattled Home Secretary Clare O’Neil (pictured) first leveled the smear against Mr Dutton on Wednesday and it was repeated on live breakfast television by Sports Minister Anika Wells on Thursday.
The government has been under fire for weeks for failing to draft a bill ahead of the decision to address the potential consequences.
Instead, in the days that followed, it worked with the opposition to quickly push through legislation that would allow police to equip offenders with electronic ankle monitors and subject them to a curfew.
Despite efforts by both parties to improve the situation for the benefit of the wider community, Ms O’Neil launched a scathing attack in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, claiming Mr Dutton was protecting pedophiles over children as he refused a motion which included punishing children. pedophiles caught within a certain distance of schools.
She also claimed he was an advocate of child sex offenders, after one of his frontbenchers, Senator Dean Smith, campaigned against Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to release a convicted sex offender into the community.
In a letter to Mr Giles, Senator Smith noted that the perpetrator, whose visa had been revoked due to his convictions, had sex with a girl aged between 13 and 16. The refugee was 21 years old when he committed the offense.
Speaking to 2GB’s Ray Hadley after the allegations were made against him, Mr Dutton said this was “completely the opposite of the truth” and admitted he was “of course” influenced by it.
“I think the government is now showing that it is really getting desperate,” he said.
“He (the Prime Minister) did not have the courage to say what he told the ministers.”
Mr Dutton said the Coalition voted against the bill on Monday because they had tried to argue for tougher restrictions that were not included.
“The personal attacks – yes, they hurt. But they mean nothing to me. It’s the opposite of who I am and what I believe… This is a desperate Prime Minister who has run out of options.”