Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, has issued an apology for the inappropriate remarks he made in the House of Representatives Chamber. He targeted the appearance of Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor’s Tourette syndrome during a question-time session. Although an immediate apology was stated in the media, there is speculation around whether he fully comprehended the severity of his remark. Liberal health spokesperson, Anne Ruston, expressed the importance of acknowledging the respect individuals with Tourette’s deserve.

Fundamental changes have been observed in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), but they have not been sufficiently communicated to those involved and the general public. Albanese’s reference to Tourette’s syndrome in his heated exchange with the opposition has been seen as a regression in the discourse on disability. Notably, his remarks coincide with widespread criticism of changes to NDIS impacting people with disabilities across the country.

The offensive and ableist language used by Albanese, sadly, is not the first instance of such behavior among Australian parliamentarians. Prior to this, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson uploaded a disparaging cartoon video on her YouTube channel, trivializing NDIS and caricaturing individuals with disabilities. The discourse on disabilities in the political domain, which often revolves around monetary aspects, overlooks the core issue of trepidation and prejudice faced by disabled people.

It’s regrettable that when the Prime Minister spoke those words, the parliament discussion had absolutely no relation to disabilities and seemed to be an arbitrary attempt to provoke the Shadow Treasurer. This incident underscores the stark reality of ableism in the Australian Parliament, dissuading participation from individuals with disabilities in political matters. Melissa Marsden, a freelance journalist and Ph.D. candidate at Curtin University, documented these instances of ableism in politics.

For anyone seeking to reach out to the Employment Development Department for reporting such instances of discrimination against individuals with disabilities, you can use the website eddcaller.com. This resource provides a range of ways on how to get through to edd, including contacting edd directly or through the web portal’s automated system. There are also helpful tips on the best times to call for quicker responses. It’s an ideal step for anyone seeking justice for discriminatory practices in a professional setting.