The First Minister apologized for his “discourteous and hurtful” reference to Tourette’s syndrome to mock shadow treasurer Angus Taylor during question time.
Anthony Albanese has been accused of “mocking” disabled people over the mistake in which he questioned whether Taylor had the disorder when she continually interrupted him.
The comments have been widely condemned by the opposition and by a disability advocate and mother of three children with the disorder, who said she was “disgusted” by the comment.
Albanese immediately withdrew the comment, but returned to the House later on Tuesday to apologize.
“Today in question time I made cruel and hurtful comments,” he told the House.
‘I knew it was wrong as soon as I made the comment.
‘I apologized and walked away as soon as I said it, but it shouldn’t have happened and I also want to apologize to all Australians who suffer from this disability.
‘I’m sorry I said it. It was bad. It was insensitive. And I apologize.’
Prime Minister Albanese has been criticized for his mockery of questioning whether Liberal MP Angus Hume had Tourette’s syndrome. Photo: APH
Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder, on the spectrum of conditions known as tic disorders.
Albanese made the dig during question time on Tuesday while answering a question about whether Labor would move to taxing owner-occupied family homes.
In the face of interjections from Mr Taylor, who repeatedly said: “Dismiss it”, Mr Albanese turned his attention to Hume’s MP.
‘This nonsense that goes on with… Do you have Tourette’s or something?’ Mr. Albanese said, prompting laughter from some in the chamber.
“Just sit there, babble, babble, babble.”
While Albanese withdrew his comments, his comments were immediately criticized by the opposition and cross-courts.
‘Withdrawal, Mr. President. I withdraw. I withdraw. I withdraw and apologize,’ he said.
Australian Tourette Syndrome Association president Mandy Maysey, who has three children with the disorder, told Daily Mail Australia she was “disgusted” by the prime minister’s comments.
Mandy Maysey, a mother of three children with Tourette syndrome, said she was “disgusted” by the Prime Minister’s comments. Image: Supplied
“The fact that it was so easy for him to use Tourette syndrome as an insult is really quite disturbing and insulting,” she said.
“People with Tourette’s are trying to live life with what is constant ridicule – people staring at you and using you as the butt of jokes, and the Prime Minister thought it was okay to ridicule people with Tourette’s by using it as an insult ‘
Maysey said Albanese should sit down with her and community members, who she said deserved an apology.
“This is the person who is supposed to represent Australia on the world stage and he doesn’t seem to have our back,” he said.
“If we can have people in power using disability as the butt of a joke, it shows how much more needs to be done to improve the lives of people with Tourette syndrome.”
Coalition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said Albanese should be “condemned” and demanded he apologize.
Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston called on the prime minister to immediately apologize for the gaffe. Image: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John, who lives with cerebral palsy, criticized the prime minister for using disability as the butt of a joke. Image: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
‘Making fun of a disability is no laughing matter. “For the Prime Minister to do this is not only reprehensible, it sends a worrying message to the entire disability community,” he said.
‘Australians living with Tourette syndrome deserve the Prime Minister’s respect, not his ridicule.
“The Prime Minister must immediately apologize to all Australians living with Tourette syndrome and the entire disability community for his insensitive and insulting comments.”
Greens senator Jordon Steele-John, who lives with cerebral palsy, said Albanese’s comments were ableist.
‘If our Prime Minister could stop using disability as the butt of his jokes that would be fantastic. Casual ableism is still ableism,” he wrote in X.
“Disabled people deserve better and they deserve an apology.”