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Tasmania's Liberal premier and a backbencher say it was "inappropriate" for federal leader Peter Dutton to draw comparisons between the Port Arthur massacre and a pro-Palestine protest.
In a speech earlier this week, Mr Dutton compared the former Howard government's response to the 1996 massacre, in which 35 people were killed, and the Albanese government's reaction to a pro-Palestine protest outside the Sydney Opera House following the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.
Mr Dutton said while no one died in that protest, the event was akin to Port Arthur in terms of its social significance, and claimed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's response was "weak" compared to the former prime minister John Howard's "strong" response to the massacre.
Tasmania's Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it was "not an appropriate comparison".
"It is never appropriate to compare the Port Arthur tragedy with anything in any circumstance," Mr Rockliff said.
"I understand Mr Dutton has clarified his statement. My heart goes out to all the people still rawly connected with the tragedy.
"We need to be very careful and never compare the Port Arthur tragedy to anything but the absolute tragedy that it was."
Tasmanian federal Liberal backbencher Ms Archer has been similarly critical, labelling her party leader's comments as "incredibly disrespectful to the victims and survivors of one of the darkest days in our nations history".
"A wholly inappropriate and somewhat bizarre comparison," she said.
But other Tasmanian Liberals have backed in Mr Dutton.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Claire Chandler said Mr Dutton had "clearly" expressed that Mr Albanese had missed a chance to provide leadership in the wake of the Hamas terror attack.
"The explosion in anti-Semitism which erupted in the immediate aftermath of the horrific October 7 massacre is a national crisis, but it was not met with the decisive leadership that Australians expect when confronted with such an emergency," Senator Chandler said.
"That is clearly the point that Mr Dutton was making."
Liberal senators Wendy Askew and Jonno Duniam, Tasmania's most senior Liberal representative, also endorsed Mr Dutton's comments.
"Peter Dutton is right to point to the moral failure of the Albanese government to call out anti-Semitism that has become more and more prevalent since the bloodshed of thousands of innocent Jewish lives by Hamas on October 7," Mr Duniam told the ABC.
"All we heard was radio silence from Albanese government ministers when a mob burnt the Israel flag at the Sydney Opera House and chanted anti-Semitic remarks."
Braddon MP Gavin Pearce said Mr Dutton had reasonably called for the government to provide leadership to combat a rise in anti-Semitism.
"In this context, the contrast between former prime minister John Howard's leadership style and Anthony Albanese's lack of leadership was appropriate," Mr Pearce said.
Dutton repeated on Friday that he stood by his comments.
"The point I was making, which is absolutely a legitimate one, is that I thought that this was a time for the prime minister to show leadership, and to step up, instead we've had crickets," he told Channel Nine.
"You've got a contrast, I think, with John Howard who stood up at a point of national importance for our country, demonstrated leadership."
Asked about the criticism from backbench colleague Ms Archer, Mr Dutton told Channel Nine it was "by one backbencher, whom I respect but has a different opinion on many issues, and that's fine".
Liberal senator Richard Colbeck accused Labor and the media of seeking to distract the public.
"It is typical that Labor, when confronted with an issue that they can’t debate on the facts, turn to personal attacks on Peter Dutton to distract from their failure," Senator Colbeck said.
"Peter Dutton was comparing the leadership of two Prime Ministers at two critical points in time — not comparing the events.
"It is entirely predictable that the media then race off down the rabbit burrow of the distraction rather that retain focus on the actual issue at hand."
Other federal Tasmanian politicians have also deemed Mr Dutton's remarks in poor taste.
Independent senator Tammy Tyrrell said it was "inappropriate and insensitive" while Greens senator Nick McKim described the comments as "unhinged and repugnant", saying Mr Dutton should "stay out of Tasmania for good".
"To invoke the tragedy of Port Arthur to make a cheap political point shows culpable disrespect to those who were killed, and the families and loved ones who survived them," he said.
Labor MP Brian Mitchell, whose electorate includes Port Arthur, said on Thursday Mr Dutton should avoid divisive comparisons to the incident.
"As the local member here, I would ask Peter Dutton to reflect on that and refrain from making such divisive and inflammatory comments using the tragedy in our community," he said.
Tasmanian Labor senator Helen Polley said it was "outrageous".
"He has no filter and no leadership skills. Such offensive comments were not necessary and he must apologise. No excuse," she said.
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has also been contacted for comment.