Peter Dutton, the leader of the Australian Opposition, has acknowledged that his use of the term "limp-wrist" during a recent foreign policy event was inappropriate.

The remarks were made at the Lowy Institute in Sydney while discussing a Chinese naval task force that conducted live-fire exercises off the Australian coast earlier this year.

Dutton characterized the government’s response as the "weakest, most limp-wrist response you could see from a leader," criticizing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's handling of the situation.

The term 'limp-wristed' is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as an extremely offensive descriptor historically associated with negative stereotypes about men perceived to exhibit characteristics associated with homosexuality.

Following the fallout from his comments, a spokesperson for Dutton stated, "it was a phrase that shouldn’t have been used, and no offence was intended from Mr Dutton." In response to Dutton’s remarks, Foreign Minister Penny Wong remarked that such language is unsurprising given Dutton's previous opposition to marriage equality, while also stating that individuals could draw their own conclusions about the term.

A fellow Liberal Party member, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed that Dutton's language perpetuated an offensive stereotype.

Opposition treasury spokesperson Angus Taylor defended Dutton's sentiment but refrained from repeating the controversial phrase during interviews.

Independent MP Allegra Spender condemned the language as "completely inappropriate & offensive to many in the LGBTQ+ community," emphasizing the importance of critiquing government actions without resorting to harmful stereotypes.

Dutton's comments came during a broader speech where he articulated his foreign policy stance, including opposition to Australian participation in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine and an intention to align with Israel at the United Nations.

Furthermore, he expressed a desire for his first international trip as prime minister to be to Washington, to meet with former President Donald Trump, indicating a focus on finding common ground.

However, Dutton also criticized the impact of the Trump administration's cutbacks to USAID, warning that the reduction of American aid projects in the Indo-Pacific could harm collective regional interests.

He suggested that Australia should advocate for a reinstatement of funding for essential programs.

In turn, Senator Wong conveyed that her department is assessing the impacts of diminished US aid in the Pacific, affirming the government's commitment to engage with regional countries.