Opposition leader Sussan Ley has defended her criticism of Foreign Minister Penny Wong, saying she was "expressing my anger and disappointment" over the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Ley said she would not tolerate the "empty rhetoric and weak response [to the Bondi shooting] we have seen from this Albanese government," while on 7News' Sunrise show on Tuesday.
She described the community's anger and distress as palpable, and criticised the prime minister for taking eight days to apologise, adding that a royal commission could be called "today" to start the healing process.
Ley framed her comments as a reflection of community sentiment, saying people were seeking "the one thing that will start the healing journey, which is this commission".
The remarks followed a Monday press conference in which Ley accused Wong of failing to attend Bondi memorials or funerals, saying she had "not seen Penny Wong shed a single tear".
Ley also criticised other government members for not listening to the pain and anguish of the Bondi community.
Wong had earlier told ABC Radio there was a need to "turn the temperature down" on political debate, emphasising she had repeatedly urged Australians to avoid bringing conflict into the country.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen described Ley's outburst as "pretty disgusting" and argued it reflected more on Ley than Wong.
Speaking to ABC RN on Tuesday, Bowen said the attack represented "an increasingly partisan pile-on in the wake of a national crisis," noting that past tragedies such as Lindt Cafe and Port Arthur had united — rather than divided — Australians.
He said Ley was trying to make political points out of grief, and that a personal attack on Wong "will jar pretty badly with Australians".
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