Prime Minster Anthony Albanese has made a late-night apology in Parliament after drawing criticism over a shot at opposition leader Peter Dutton during question time.
Mr Albanese had drawn condemnation for a reference to the neurological disorder Tourette's while responding to interjections on Tuesday, October 8.
"Have you got Tourette's or something," Mr Albanese shot at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during question time.
"You're just sitting there, babble, babble, babble."
The comment, which the Prime Minister quickly withdrew, was met with gasps from across the aisle.
Mr Albanese returned to a mostly empty chamber to apologise before it adjourned at 8pm on Tuesday.
"I made comments which unkind and hurtful," he said.
He said he knew the comments were wrong as soon as he said them and that "it shouldn't have happened".
"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 is a type of disorder, characterised by rapid, repetitive and involuntary muscle movements and vocalisations called tics.
According to the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia, tics are experienced as a build up of tension, are irresistible and eventually must be performed.
"Typically tics increase as a result of tension or stress and decrease with relaxation or concentration on an absorbing task," the association's website said.
Senator Ruston said the Prime Minister "must immediately apologise to the entire Tourette's community" for his "absolutely despicable behaviour" in Parliament.
"Australians living with Tourette's deserve the PM's respect, not his ridicule," she wrote.
The Context of the Remark
The interaction came after shadow treasurer Angus Taylor raised a point of order when Mr Albanese dodged his question, which was: "Does the Prime Minister rule out any changes to the tax treatment of the owner occupied family home, and to negative gearing?"
The Prime Minister had dismissed the question as "a fishing expedition", saying: "Apparently now we're going after the family home. The family home. We're going after the family home.
"According to them, we're going to go in and there will be a knock on the door, 'Here we are, we're the government, we're here to take your home from you, we're going to nationalise the home.'
"The only political party that I've seen talking about mass nationalisation is those opposite who want to nationalise the energy network and then they want to intervene in the market to nationalise the supermarkets. The family home..."
Mr Taylor said: "It was a very straightforward question. It wasn't about the opposition. It was about the government's proposal, their secret tax on the family home."
The Prime Minister said the shadow treasurer was "delusional".
"We have all of our tax policies out there, and all of the ones that they want to talk about are things that we are not doing," Mr Albanese said.
"We're talking about what we are doing. Some of which they are blocking over in the other chamber, including whether it is housing policy, or whether it is tax policy. This nonsense that they carry on with..."
He then shot at Mr Dutton: "Have you got Tourette's or something?"
Mr Albanese quickly withdrew the comment and apologised.
"I withdraw Mr Speaker. I withdraw. I withdraw. I withdraw and apologise," Mr Albanese said.
"Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, they sit there, they sit there and interject non-stop."
Opposition Demands Apology
The opposition has called for Albanese to apologize to the entire Tourette's community for his remarks. Senator Ruston's statement, which has been widely shared on social media, has garnered significant attention and sparked a conversation about the importance of sensitivity towards people with disabilities.
The incident has also highlighted the ongoing tensions between the government and the opposition in the Australian Parliament, with both sides engaging in heated exchanges and accusations over various policy issues.
While Albanese's apology has been widely accepted, his comment has sparked a debate about the appropriate language and behavior of politicians during parliamentary proceedings. Critics argue that his remark was disrespectful and insensitive, while supporters have pointed to the intense pressure and adversarial nature of Question Time.
Regardless of one's perspective, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respectful dialogue and sensitivity towards all Australians, particularly those with disabilities. The ongoing conversation surrounding Albanese's comment is likely to continue as the Australian public weighs in on the matter.
Moving Forward
The incident serves as a reminder that the political landscape can be a volatile environment, and it is essential for those in power to exercise caution and sensitivity in their language and actions. It remains to be seen if the Australian public will accept Albanese's apology and move on, or if the incident will continue to cast a shadow over his leadership.
As the political discourse evolves, it is imperative that politicians engage in respectful dialogue and avoid using language that perpetuates harmful stereotypes or reinforces negative perceptions of individuals or communities. The future of Australian politics will depend on the ability of leaders to navigate the complexities of public discourse while upholding the principles of respect, inclusivity, and empathy.
