Peter Dutton has broken his silence after a Labor politician volleyed a brutal quip yesterday. 

Speaking with 4BC’s Scott Emerson yesterday, Tanya Plibersek likened the former Defence Minister to the Harry Potter series’ villain, Voldemort.

The comments drew criticism from public figures on both sides, including the newly minted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Ms Plibersek has since apologised to Mr Dutton, who is tipped to be the next leader of the Liberal Party.

“It’s water off a duck’s back,” Mr Dutton told Ray Hadley. “You read all that sort of stuff online, as you say, and it’s sort of the sewer of Twitter all the time.

“I think it’s unfortunate but she’s apologised for that.”

While he agreed the comparison of personal characteristics can be “nasty and mean”, he appeared to take a good-humoured approach to the situation.

“I say to by 16- and 17-year-olds, who give me a bit of stick about being bald, that I had more hair than they do at 16 and 17 and to ‘be careful, because you’ve got dodgy genes’.

“I’m not bald by choice, I was diagnosed with a skin condition a couple of years ago, so it’s just a reality of getting older.

“I’m not the prettiest bloke on the block but I hope that I’m going to be pretty effective.”

Press PLAY below to hear Peter Dutton’s response in full