CNN —Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologized after using an ableist slur to taunt political opponents in parliament.
You know, you just sit there, babble, babble, babble,” he said, before immediately adding: “I withdraw and apologize.”Albanese later returned to the chamber to make a more formal apology.
Mandy Maysey, president of the Tourette Syndrome Association of Australia, told CNN affiliate 7News that she was “absolutely livid” at the comments.
“I’m incredibly disappointed and just gobsmacked somebody that has the national stage would use that platform and Tourette syndrome to make an insult,” she said.
“This shows we have a very long way to go until Tourette syndrome is taken seriously as a condition,” she added.
Persons:
Anthony Albanese, Albanese, “, ”, ” Albanese, Anne Ruston, ” Ruston, Mandy Maysey, “ I’m, Maysey, Tourette’s, Lewis Capaldi, Billie Eilish, I’m, ” Capaldi, Capaldi, Eilish, David Letterman
Organizations:
CNN, Australian, National Institute of Neurological Disorders, Tourette, of Australia, 7News
Locations:
Tourette’s, Albanese