Debate has erupted over the federal government’s response to protests in Victoria which turned violent.

Anti-lockdown protesters brought a gallows to a violent rally in Melbourne at the weekend and chanted death threats directed at Premier Daniel Andrews, drawing comparisons to the storming of the US Capitol in January.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has attracted condemnation for his response, in which he declared “threats and intimidation have no place in Australia” but that he has “sympathy for Australians who have had a gutful of governments telling them what to do”.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor stood by the Prime Minister’s comments in a fiery Question Time segment on Afternoons.

“He, like me, will recognise the legitimate frustration of Victorians, the most locked-down city in the world,” he told Deborah Knight.

“They want to get on with their lives – fair enough, I would say.”

Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon argued Mr Morrison has “[got] the dogwhistle out” and made “outrageous comments” because he’s worried about losing votes to One Nation and Clive Palmer.

“There were certainly shades of the Capitol building incident.

“You have to give Angus at least points for loyalty.”

Press PLAY below to hear their fiery debate in full

Image: Twitter