<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>330506</docID> <postdate>2024-10-09 09:04:54</postdate> <headline>PM apologises for ‘insensitive’ Tourette’s comment</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-330507" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241008130351920900-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Anthony Albanese has apologised for an 'insensitive' quip about Tourette's syndrome in parliament. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Andrew Brown</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>The prime minister has apologised for making "wrong" and "insensitive" comments in parliament by asking if an opposition MP had Tourette's syndrome.</strong></p> <p>During Question Time on Tuesday, Anthony Albanese made the remark when facing interjections from opposition frontbencher Angus Taylor.</p> <p>"Have you got Tourette's or something? You know, you just sit there, babble, babble, babble," he said.</p> <p>While he quickly withdrew the comment, he faced immediate criticism from other MPs and advocates for using the condition as an insult.</p> <p>Later on Tuesday, the prime minister apologised for the remarks in the House of Representatives.</p> <p>"I made comments that were unkind and hurtful. I knew it was wrong as soon as I made the comment," Mr Albanese said.</p> <p>"I apologised and withdrew as soon as I said it, but it shouldn't have happened. I also want to apologise to all the Australians who suffer from this disability.</p> <p>"I regret saying it. It was wrong, it was insensitive and I apologise."</p> <p>President of Tourette's Syndrome Association of Australia Mandy Maysey said she was angered by the prime minister's comments.</p> <p>"For him to just flippantly use it in such an offhanded manner speaks volumes of the public, we have a lot of work to do," she told Seven's Sunrise program.</p> <p>"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."</p> <p>Greens disability spokesman Jordon Steele-John said people with a disability deserved better from the prime minister.</p> <p>"If our PM could stop using disability as the butt of his jokes that would be great," he said on social media.</p> <p>"Casual ableism is still ableism."</p> <p>Opposition finance spokesman Jane Hume says while people misspeak under pressure, mocking people with the disability is no laughing matter.</p> <p>"This has really been an insight into the prime minister's character, I think, and ironically, in a week when this parliament is going to be voting on adopting a code of conduct for our own behaviour in parliament," she told Seven's Sunrise program.</p> <p>"I hope that the prime minister reflects on that."</p> <p>Housing Minister Clare O'Neil said the prime minister had made a mistake but had apologised.</p> <p>"It was good that he didn't pretend he hadn't done the wrong thing. He immediately acknowledged it, and he did make that apology," she said.</p> </body>