Footage has resurfaced of Penny Wong removing a jibe about Tourette’s syndrome in the wake of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s humiliating apology for making the same mistake.
Senator Wong, who is now foreign minister, was attempting to answer a question at a Senate committee session in 2013 when she was interrupted by Liberal senator Mathias Cormann.
‘Can you contain yourself? It’s like you have Tourette’s or something. Is it the one where you can’t stop talking? she said.
‘ADD? Oh yes, that’s true, when you say bad words. That’s what I’m thinking about.
Former Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi asked Senator Wong to answer the question again.
‘I’m trying to answer a question. Every time I do it, he starts talking,” he said.
Later, Senator Bernardi raised the issue again.
“This has been brought to my attention in a previous exchange between Senator Wong and Senator Cormann,” he said.
A resurfaced clip shows Foreign Minister Penny Wong being forced to apologize for a very similar ‘Tourette’ jibe that Prime Minister Anthony apologized for on Tuesday.
“There was a suggestion that Senator Cormann had Tourette syndrome or attention deficit disorder.”
Senator Wong withdrew her comment with the additional observation that it was incorrect.
“And apparently I was wrong too, because I forgot that Tourette syndrome is when you say bad words and he doesn’t say bad words,” she said.
Senator Bernardi gave him an annoyed look but continued with the procedure.
On Tuesday, Albanese was forced to return to parliament after accusing shadow treasurer Angus Taylor of having Tourrette’s disease.
“Today during question time I made cruel and hurtful comments,” he said.
‘I knew it was wrong as soon as I made the comment.
Albanese was forced to return to Parliament to apologize for Tourette’s insult directed at shadow treasurer Angus Taylor.
‘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.’
Albanese was accused of “mocking” disabled people by asking them if Taylor had the disorder – which can include uncontrollable outbursts of offensive words – because he repeatedly interrupted.
The jibe was condemned by the opposition and by a disability advocate and mother of three children with the disorder, who said she was “disgusted” by the Prime Minister’s comment.
