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Peter Dutton labelled "tone deaf" during Question Time

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has been slammed after shutting down Labor leader Anthony Albanese during his speech around Brittany Higgins and the March 4 Justice protests.

In Question Time on Monday, Dutton walked up to the podium to cut off Albanese as he spoke about Higgins and the thousands protesting around the nation.

Albanese moved to suspend standing orders during Question Time so that a motion could be put forward, including that an independent inquiry is held around Brittany Higgins.

He also put forward four actions and went on to talk about the Prime Minister's response to Higgin's rape allegations.

Dutton cut short Albanese's speech and asked that he "no longer be heard".

Albanese appeared surprised and in shock at the move by Dutton.

However, Dutton was within his rights to do so as the Prime Minister and a number of Liberal party figures face criticism for their handling of a range of recent allegations as well as not attending the Canberra rally.

Scott Morrison has also been criticised for saying that rallies such as "March 4 Justice" are "met with bullets" in other countries.

“It is good and right, Mr Speaker, that so many are able to gather here in this way, whether in our capital or elsewhere, and to do so peacefully to express their concerns and their very genuine and real frustrations,” he said during Question Time.

“This is a vibrant liberal democracy, Mr Speaker, not far from here, such marches, even now, are being met with bullets, but not here in this country.”

Albanese has described the PM's response as "not so much a tin ear as a wall of concrete".

“(Women are) crying out that this is a moment that requires leadership, and it requires leadership from this prime minister. And we are not getting it, Prime Minister,” he said.

Mr Albanese read out Ms Higgins’ quote: “I watched as the Prime Minister of Australia publicly apologised to me through the media, while privately his media team actively undermined and discredited my loved ones.”

Tags:
politics, peter dutton, question time, scott morrison, brittany higgins