PM brushes off accusation he lied about speaking arrangements at violence against women rally

Anthony Albanese told Channel Nine he was happy whether or not he spoke and blamed the situation on an ‘emotional’ day and issue

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Anthony Albanese has brushed off the claim by an organiser of rallies against gendered violence that he lied about being asked not to speak, blaming it on an “emotional” day and issue.

Albanese told Channel Nine’s Today Program that he “was happy not to speak” or “was happy to speak” but insisted the focus must remain on combatting violence despite the controversy over his contribution to the rallies.

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