Grace Tame lashes ‘old, ableist toffs’ in Australian parliament

Grace Tame has lashed out at Anthony Albanese’s government after two separate incidents during the opening days of the new parliament.

Grace Tame has branded the Albanese Government as “elitist”, “whitewashed” and “ableist toffs” in a emotionally charged Instagram post.

The former Australian of the Year posted on Sunday night about the Labor Government’s first week in parliament where an Auslan interpreter was not allowed on the floor of the Senate and a senator with a disability was denied a role chairing the NDIS committee.

“Must be such a slog for these poor old, elected, ableist toffs to breathe in there, for all the privilege stifling the parliament,” Ms Tame wrote on her Instagram story.

“What a crock of w**k.”

Grace Tame has lashed out at the government following the first week of parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

The former Australian of the year hit out on Instagram. Picture: Grace Tame/Instagram

Ms Tame said she “apologises for making any attempt to try and increase engagement” with the government, branding parliament “elitist”.

“We’ll happily go back to ignoring your echo chamber of whitewashed white noise, if that’s what you’d prefer,” she said.

The post followed ACT senator David Pocock’s criticism of the government for refusing to allow an Auslan speaker to translate his speech.

Ms Tame also took issue that the Senate rejected a disabled member of parliament as chair of the joint standing committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Greens Senator Larissa Waters tried to get her party colleague Senator Jordon Steele-John installed as chair given his experience with disability. He is the only federal politician who uses a wheelchair.

The chair and deputy chair positions are held by members of the Labor and Liberal parties, which banded together to block the proposal.

Ms Tame’s criticism of the Albanese Government is in sharp contrast to her reaction on the election result that saw Scott Morrison booted out of office.

Grace Tame with Anthony Albanese before the election. Picture: Twitter/Anthony Albanese

The now-viral photo where Ms Tame gave Scott Morrison the side-eye. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Here’s to inclusion, integrity, diversity, truth, equity, respect, safety and change. A better future. For all of us. For the planet. Congratulations to @albomp, and to the people of Australia – for a triumph over corruption and abuse. A triumph of hope. Today was a victory for us all,” she said on social media after Labor’s victory.

She had clashed several times with Mr Morrison and his government – most notably in an awkward encounter at The Lodge.

That icy meeting sparked national media coverage and backlash from conservative MPs who called her “childish” and immature.