Former Labor minister Graham Richardson says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can not “muck around” with legislation for protecting women against domestic violence.

“What do we do about it? Nothing,” he said.

“I am always appalled at this, I have been appalled for many years.

“I have written columns about it; it is just appalling.

“What we have to do is just get Albo in a room and say to him, mate, you can’t muck around with this, you have to make laws that are rigid and that will do something to actually protect women, not just to sound nice, and look good.”