Anthony Albanese apologises for ‘unkind’ remarks on Tourette syndrome when mocking shadow treasurer

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised for his “unkind and hurtful” remarks in parliament on Tuesday, when he asked if shadow treasurer Angus Taylor had Tourette syndrome. The remark came during Question Time when Mr Taylor, the shadow treasurer, and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton interjected in the chamber. “This nonsense that they carry on with ... Have you got Tourette’s or something?” Mr Albanese asked. “You know, you just sit there, babble, babble, babble.” Some Labor MPs laughed at the remark, while others did not find it amusing including Cowan MP Anne Ally, who grimaced and rolled her eyes before quickly realising he was in the wrong. People with Tourette syndrome suffer from unwanted, uncontrollable tics often including vocal sounds. The Prime Minister soon apologised for his comments during Question Time; “I withdraw. I withdraw. I withdraw and apologise,” he said. However, Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston and Greens disability spokesman Jordon Steele-John urged him to issue a formal apology. On Tuesday night, he apologised further for his remarks saying they were “unkind and hurtful”. “I knew it was wrong as soon as I made the comment,” he said. “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,” he said. The comments were condemned by a disability advocate and mum of three children with the disorder, who said she was “disgusted” by the comment. “The fact that it came so easy to him, to use Tourette’s as an insult is really quite upsetting and insulting,” Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia president Mandy Maysey said. “People with Tourette’s are trying to navigate life with what is constant ridicule — people stare, and you’re being used as the butt of jokes, and the Prime Minister thought it was OK to ridicule people with Tourette’s by using it as an insult.” Ms Maysey said Mr Albanese should sit down with herself and members of the community dealing with the syndrome. “This is the person who is supposed to represent Australia on the world stage and it feels like he doesn’t have our back,” she said. “If we can have people in power using disability as the butt of a joke, it shows how much needs to be done to improve the lives of people with Tourette syndrome”. Coalition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said Mr Albanese should be “condemned”. “Mocking a disability is no laughing matter. For the Prime Minister to do so is not only reprehensible, but it sends a concerning message to the entire disability community,” she said. “Australians living with Tourette’s deserve the Prime Minister’s respect not his ridicule. “The Prime Minister must immediately apologise 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 Mr Albanese’s comments were ableist. “If our PM could stop using disability as the butt of his jokes that would be great. Casual ableism is still ableism,” he shared on X. “Disabled people deserve better and they deserve an apology.”