Anthony Albanese accused of ‘mocking’ people with disabilities after Tourette gaffe

The Prime Minister is facing severe backlash after he referenced Tourette syndrome to mock the Coalition’s shadow treasurer.

Anthony Albanese’s reference to Tourette syndrome to mock shadow treasurer Angus Taylor offers “insight into the Prime Minister’s character”, Coalition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume says.

The Prime Minister hit out at Mr Taylor amid repeated interjections from the opposition frontbencher during parliamentary question time on Tuesday.

“This nonsense that they carry on with ... Have you got Tourette’s or something?” Mr Albanese said, drawing laughter from some in the chamber.

“You just sit there, babble babble babble.”

Mr Albanese immediately withdrew his comments, but the remarks quickly drew ire from the opposition, crossbench and disability advocates.

Senator Hume said on Wednesday morning that “mocking people with a disability is no laughing matter”.

Coalition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume says the Prime Minister’s Tourette syndrome gibe offers an ‘insight’ into his character. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“People with Tourette syndrome deserve our respect, not our ridicule,” she told Sunrise in a joint appearance with Housing Minister Clare O’Neil.

“This has really been an insight into the Prime Minister’s character, I think.

“Ironically, 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.”

Ms O’Neil defended her boss, saying he was a “human being” and “made a mistake”.

“What matters is that immediately after he said these words, he apologised,” the Labor minister said.

She said everybody made mistakes and it was important how people addressed their errors.

“What matters is how we deal with it afterwards and I think it was good he didn’t pretend he hadn’t done the wrong thing,” Ms O’Neil said.

“He immediately acknowledged it and made that apology.”

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder on the spectrum of conditions known as tic disorders.

It can present in a number of ways physically or verbally.

Prime Minister Albanese has been criticised for his gibe questioning whether Liberal MP Angus Taylor had Tourette syndrome. Picture: APH

Mr Albanese returned to the House of Representatives later on Tuesday to issue a longer apology.

“Today in question time I made comments that were unkind and hurtful,” he told the House.

“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.”

Tourette syndrome Association of Australia president Mandy Maysey, who has three children with the disorder, said on Tuesday she was “disgusted” by Mr Albanese’s comments.

Mandy Maysey, who has three children with Tourette syndrome, said she was ‘disgusted’ by Mr Albanese comments. Picture: Supplied

“The fact that it came so easy to him, to use Tourette’s as an insult is really quite upsetting and insulting,” she 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 Tourette’s community, whom she said deserved an apology.

“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” and demanded he apologise.

Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston called on Mr Albanese to apologise immediately for the gaffe. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Greens senator Jordon Steele-John slammed Mr Albanese for using disability for the butt of a joke. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“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.”