“Prime Minister’s Comment on Tourette’s: Despicable”

The Disability Community have been outraged by a comment made by Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, describing a political opponent as having “Tourette Syndrome”, during Tuesday’s Parliamentary session.

On Tuesday afternoon during Question Time, shadow treasurer Angus Taylor asked the Prime Minister if his government would rule out any changes to the tax treatment of the owner-occupied family home and to negative gearing.

During a back and forth between the pair, Mr Taylor repeatedly called out to the Prime Minister to "rule it out".

During his response, Mr Albanese stopped in his tracks and turned to the shadow treasurer and asked: "Have you got Tourette’s or something? You know, you just sit there, babble, babble, babble.”

Tourette's is a neurological disorder that can cause uncontrolled rapid and repeated movements or vocal sounds called tics.

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has admitted he was 'unkind and hurtful' -- when he asked a coalition frontbencher if they have Tourette's Syndrome - during heated debate in parliament.

The remark - which was quickly withdrawn - has angered disability advocates and been labelled "ableist" and "despicable" by MPs across the political spectrum.

Mr Albanese seemed to immediately regret having made the comment, withdrew it and immediately apologised.

“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.”

His comment drew criticism from the Coalition and the Greens, with shadow health and aged care minister Anne Ruston and Greens Senator Jordan Steele-John calling out the Prime Minister.

Ms Ruston said it was "absolutely despicable behaviour" and demanded the Prime Minister apologise to the whole Tourette's Syndrome community.

"Mocking a disability is no laughing matter," she wrote on X.

Senator Steele-John, who has cerebral palsy, also took to social media and called on Mr Albanese to "stop using disability as the butt of his jokes" and added disabled people deserved an apology for his comment.

The President of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia said Albanese's comment demonstrated the need to increase awareness about the disorder.

"For him to just flippantly use it in such an offhanded manner speaks volumes... we have a lot of work to do," Mandy Maysey told Seven News.

Senator Claire Hume told Channel seven’s Sunrise show that “People with Tourette syndrome deserve our respect, not our ridicule,”

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.”

“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

“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”.

“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.

“The Prime Minister must immediately apologise to all Australians living with Tourette syndrome and the entire disability community for his insensitive and insulting comments.”

“Disabled people deserve better and they deserve an apology.”