Peter Dutton has been slammed for ]his ‘disgraceful’ use of a term historically used to insult gay people to describe Anthony Albanese.
Speaking on Thursday at an event hosted by the Lowy Institute think tank, the Opposition leader said the Prime Minister’s response to the Chinese navy’s recent manoeuvres around Australia was ‘limp-wristed’.
Mr Dutton said what China’s actions were a ‘show of force by Beijing’.
‘Now they’re not words that the Prime Minister used at all. It was the weakest, most limp-wristed response you can see from a leader,’ Mr Dutton said.
The term ‘limp-wristed’ is an outdated term used to describe gay men and is considered by many to be a homophobic slur.
According to the Cambridge dictionary, the phrase is ‘an extremely offensive word used to describe a man whose behaviour is thought to be typical of a gay person’.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who is gay, told the ABC that Mr Dutton ‘is a bloke who opposed marriage equality, so it’s an unsurprising use of language from him’.
Independent MP Allegra Spender accused the Liberal Party leader of promoting ‘offensive stereotypes about gay men’.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton (pictured) has been slammed for his ‘disgraceful’ use of a term insulting to gay people to describe Anthony Albanese on Thursday
Speaking at an event on Thursday, Mr Dutton said the Prime Minister’s response to the Chinese navy’s recent manoeuvres around Australia was ‘limp-wristed’. Anthony Albanese is pictured
Picture taken on February 11, 2025 shows the Chinese navy’s Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang
Writing on X, Ms Spender said Mr Dutton’s language was ‘completely inappropriate & offensive to many in the LGBTQ+ community.
‘By all means criticise the govt response, but don’t do so in a way that plays into offensive stereotypes about gay men.’
Amid mounting criticism, a spokesperson for Dutton said: ‘It was a phrase that shouldn’t have been used, and no offence was intended from Mr Dutton.’
Rodney Croome, of Just.Equal Australia, also condemned Mr Dutton’s choice of words.
He said the term limp-wristed ‘is widely known as a derogatory term for gay men’ and that its use by the Opposition leader could be seen as a ‘Trump-style dog whistle to homophobic prejudice’.
There was a swift response on social media to Mr Dutton’s comment, with one saying if no offence was intended ‘then why say it?
‘When they show you who they really are, believe them!’
Another wrote that ‘With each passing day Dutton shows us he is a cheap and discounted version of Trump – Australia doesn’t want that divisive & mean-spirited view of the world.’
Foreign Minister Penny Wong (pictured), who is gay, told the ABC that Mr Dutton ‘is a bloke who opposed marriage equality, so it’s an unsurprising use of language from him’
Independent MP Allegra Spender (pictured) accused the Liberal Party leader of promoting ‘offensive stereotypes about gay men’
There was some support for the man who could be Australia’s next prime minister within weeks, though.
One commenter on X wrote that ‘Albanese is limp wristed – why should Dutton get in trouble for telling the truth.’
The fury over Mr Dutton’s comment meant that much of what was meant to be his message on Australia’s foreign policy got lost.
He said he would seek to meet President Trump at the White House in his first overseas trip as prime minister if the Coalition won the May election.
But Mr Dutton also said he would stand up to Mr Trump to defend Australia’s interests when necessary.
His speech was interrupted by heckling from two anti-nuclear activists, who were removed from the event.
‘Mr Dutton, why are you lying to the Australian people about the cost of nuclear?’, one man shouted before he was thrown out.
The Coalition has vowed to build seven nuclear power stations across Australia, which it said will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and provide cheaper, more reliable power than renewables such as solar and wind.
