Wilson joined protesters in Hong Kong last week but was accused of hypocrisy because of previous comments disparaging protests in Australia.

He told the ABC’s Q&A program on Monday that he joined the Hong Kong protests to show China that “Australia is watching”, saying that global interest was a key safeguard for those who protest authoritarian regimes.

“They have a right to protest and that’s very consistent with things I believe in,” he said.

But he drew a distinction when asked if he would extend that support to the Extinction Rebellion protests that took place across Australia last week, saying the wilful disruption caused by climate protesters was “frustrating people being able to live their lives”.

He cited a question from Thornbury man Matthew Zammit, who has several disabilities and told the panel he was “heavily disrupted” and made to walk with chronic pain due to public transport disruptions caused by Extinction Rebellion in Melbourne.

“I think we all want to operate in a country where people have a right to be able to protest so long as they stick within the law,” Wilson said.