Australian prime minister Daniel Albanese has come under fire for remarks that involve mocking people with disabilities. (CNN) — Albanese mocked a CNN of opposition lawmakers who spoke in private during a parliamentary debate Monday, CNN reported. “Do you have Tourrette’s syndrome or something?” He told a number of mps, including the Angus Taylor of the Opposition Shadow Cabinet, “You’re just sitting there babbling, babbling, babbling!”
Australian Prime Minister Albanese, file photo, source: Visual China
Tourrette syndrome, also known as “Tourette’s syndrome,” is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood or adolescence and is characterized by motor or sexual tics. Patients will be released uncontrollably clear the voice of the throat or make a shrug, shaking head movements and so on. These actions are not intentional or habitual, but are symptomatic of a dopamine imbalance in the brain.
Albanese’s comments quickly drew criticism from the political The Australian and public opinion. Jane Hume, the opposition coalition’s finance spokesman, said Albanese had exposed his character by using Tourette’s syndrome to mock Taylor, the Shadow Cabinet’s Treasury Minister. Hume added that “Ridiculing the disabled is no joke and people with Tourrette syndrome should be treated with respect by the prime minister, not ridicule”. She also mentioned that the Australian Parliament will vote this week on the code of conduct in parliament, “I hope the Prime Minister can reflect on their words and deeds when voting.”.
Green Senator Steele John Johan, who has a brain condition, also criticised Albanese for what it said was physical discrimination, the report said. “People with disabilities deserve better and they deserve an apology” from the Prime Minister, John Johan said in a social media post.
Mandy Meysey, president of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia, said Albanese’s comments were “Depressing and humiliating”. She cited the fact that her three children all have Tourrette syndrome and that she knows firsthand the stigma and ridicule suffered by people with the condition. Meysey suggested that Albanese should sit down with people with Tourrette syndrome and apologize to them.
Under pressure from public opinion, Albanese issued a formal apology late on the 8th for using Tourette’s syndrome to mock political opponents, admitted making“Unkind and hurtful remarks” during the day’s parliamentary inquiry. Albanese said he realized his mistake as soon as he made the remarks. He apologised to all Australians suffering from the disease and retracted his comments: “I regret saying this, it is wrong, I apologise.”
One in 100 Australian school-age children may have Tourrette syndrome, which is often inherited, according to research.