Anthony Albanese has made a formal apology for his controversial comments about people with disabilities.
In Question Time on Tuesday, the Prime Minister responded to Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor with a quick jab, asking if he had “Tourette’s” due to all the “babble, babble babble”.
During the same session, he withdrew the remark instantly and apologised. After receiving backlash — his comments were labelled “ableist” and Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston called them “offensive” — he shared his formal apology in the chamber.
“Today in question time I made comments that were unkind and hurtful. I knew it was wrong as soon as I made the comment, I apologised and withdrew as soon as I said it but it shouldn’t have happened,” Albanese said.
“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.”
Tourette syndrome is a “genetic inherited neurological disorder” meaning it can be passed down from birth parents to their children, and signs can begin as young as two years old. According to Health Direct, it “causes people to make involuntary and uncontrollable vocal sounds and movements called tics”.
The president of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia Mandy Maysey appeared on Sunrise to express her anger.
“For [Anthony Albanese] to just flippantly use it in such an offhanded manner speaks volumes of the public, we have a lot of work to do,” Maysey said.
“If people see Mr Albanese doing that in parliament then it will trickle down and people already use it as a punch line or an insult.”
Liberal Jane Hume also pointed out on Sunrise that this was “an insight into the Prime Minister’s character”. While she acknowledged people can make mistakes under pressure, making fun of people with disabilities isn’t acceptable.
“Ironically, [he said it] in a week when this parliament is going to be voting on adopting a code of conduct for our own behaviour in parliament, and I hope that the Prime Minister reflects on that when he votes on that motion,” Hume said.
While he never should have made those comments in the first place, at least Albo’s formal apology is a step in the right direction.
Lead image: Getty
The post Anthony Albanese Makes Formal Apology For His ‘Hurtful’ Comment About Tourette’s Syndrome appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
