Anthony Albanese accused of “mocking a disability” after sarcastically joking opposition MP had Tourette’s during fiery Question Time

Anthony Albanese was being grilled on potential tax reforms during Question Time but after facing a number of interjections, the Prime Minister joked that opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor had Tourette’s syndrome.

Anthony Albanese has been accused of mocking people with disabilities after sarcastically joking that an opposition minister had Tourette’s during a fiery Question Time exchange.

Opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor asked the Prime Minister to rule out any potential tax and negative gearing changes as part of his suite of housing policy reforms.

During his answer, Mr Albanese faced a series of interjections from the opposition front bench including Mr Taylor who was repeatedly saying: “Rule it out.”

Mr Albanese then looked at him and said: “Have you got Tourette’s or something? You know you just sit there, babble, babble, babble.”

The remark prompted visible consternation among fellow Labor MPs and Mr Albanese appeared to realise his gaffe immediately as he requested to withdraw the comment.

But the quip has been roundly criticised by a number of politicians across the political spectrum and disability campaigners.

The president of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia said Mr Albanese owed the Tourette Syndrome community an official apology.

Mandy Maysey said: “It’s immensely disappointing to see our own Prime Minister show such a lack of empathy and understanding for people with Tourette Syndrome.

“Using Tourette Syndrome as the butt of a joke or using it in a derogatory manner as an insult like he did today opens up the Tourette Syndrome community to yet more ridicule and stereotyping.

“As the parent of some incredible human beings who live the exhausting daily struggle of life with Tourette Syndrome, I am horrified that it was used in such a flippant manner and laughed at by the rest of the house.”

Greens Senator Jordan 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.”

Meanwhile opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said: “Mocking a disability is no laughing matter. This is absolutely despicable behaviour from Anthony Albanese.

“The Prime Minister must immediately apologise to the entire Tourette’s community. Australians living with Tourette’s deserve the PM’s respect, not his ridicule.”

Opposition assistant defence minister Phillip Thompson, who previously represented Australia at the Invictus Games after receiving a traumatic brain injury while deployed in Afghanistan, said: “I don’t find mocking a disability funny. You’re the Prime Minister of Australia, start acting like it.”

Additional reporting: Newswire