"Absolutely despicable": Anthony Albanese slammed for Tourette's comment
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued an apology after making a sarcastic comment about Tourette Syndrome during Parliament’s Question Time on Tuesday.
During a heated discussion, the PM addressed Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor and said, “The idea - I mean this nonsense that they carry on with, the idea that we’re... have you got Tourette’s or something? You know, you sit there, babble, babble, babble.”
Albanese immediately withdrew the comment and apologised.
He went further on Tuesday evening, saying he knew the comment was inappropriate as soon as he said it.
“Today in Question Time I made comments that were unkind and hurtful,” he said.
“I knew it was wrong as soon as I made the comment. I apologised and I withdrew as soon as I said it but it shouldn’t have happened.”
“And I also want to apologise to all Australians who suffer from this disability. I regret saying it, it was wrong, it was insensitive and I apologise.”
Despite his apologies, his comments drew much criticism from Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston, who said that “mocking a disability is no laughing matter”.
“This is absolutely despicable behaviour from (Albanese). The Prime Minister must immediately apologise to the entire Tourette’s community,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“Australians living with Tourette’s deserve the PM’s respect, not his ridicule.”
Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia president Mandy Maysey, who has three children with the neurological disorder, was also outraged by the prime minister's comments, saying she was “absolutely livid”.
“I’m incredibly disappointed and just gobsmacked somebody that has the national stage would use that platform and Tourette syndrome to make an insult,” she told 7News.
“That’s my perspective as president of the association. As a parent, I am absolutely livid and disgusted. It shows a lack of education.”
“At the very least he owes the Tourette’s community an apology,” she said.
“This shows we have a very long way to go until Tourette syndrome is taken seriously as a condition.”
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