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The prime minister has apologised for making “wrong” and “insensitive” comments in parliament by asking if an Opposition MP had Tourette syndrome.
During Question Time on Tuesday, Anthony Albanese made the remark when facing interjections from Opposition frontbencher Angus Taylor.
“Have you got Tourette’s or something? You know, you just sit there, babble, babble, babble,” he said.
While he quickly withdrew the comment, he faced immediate criticism from other MPs and advocates for using the condition as an insult.
Later on Tuesday, Albanese apologised for the remarks in the House of Representatives.
“I made comments that were unkind and hurtful. I knew it was wrong as soon as I made the comment,” he said.
“I apologised and withdrew as soon as I said it, but it shouldn’t have happened. I also want to apologise to all the Australians who suffer from this disability.
“I regret saying it. It was wrong, it was insensitive and I apologise.”
‘We have a lot of work to do’
President of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia, Mandy Maysey, said she was angered by Albanese’s comments.
“For him to just flippantly use it in such an offhanded manner speaks volumes of the public, we have a lot of work to do,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.
“If people see Mr Albanese doing that in parliament, then it will trickle down and, people already use it as a punchline or an insult.”
Greens disability spokesman Jordon Steele-John said people with disability deserved better from the prime minister.
“If our PM could stop using disability as the butt of his jokes, that would be great,” he said on social media.
“Casual ableism is still ableism.”
Opposition finance spokesperson Jane Hume said while people misspeak under pressure, mocking people with disability is no laughing matter.
“This has really been an insight into the prime minister’s character, I think, and ironically, in a week when this parliament is going to be voting on adopting a code of conduct for our own behaviour in parliament,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.
“I hope that the prime minister reflects on that.”