Anthony Albanese makes shocking six-word Tourette’s comment on the floor of Parliament: Aussie mum says ‘he should be ashamed of himself’

Anthony Albanese has sparked uproar by sarcastically asking a Coalition minister ‘do you have Tourette’s or something?’ while answering a question about tax policy – with a mother-of-three kids with the syndrome blasting the PM.

The Prime Minister made the comment during Question Time on Tuesday after NSW MP Angus Taylor asked whether Labor would rule out changes to the way owner-occupied homes are taxed.

Mr Albanese laughed and said ongoing questions by the Opposition about changes to property taxes were a ‘fishing expedition’. 

‘Apparently now we’re going after the family home. The family home. We’re going after the family home,’ he yelled, as members from opposite sides started shouting at each other.

‘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 … This nonsense that they carry on with.’

He then stopped and looked at Mr Taylor, who was chanting: ‘Rule it out, rule it out.’

Mr Albanese asked: ‘Have you got Tourette’s or something? You know you just sit there, babble, babble, babble.’

There were audible gasps from all sides of the chamber, and from the packed public galleries. 

The PM appeared to regret his comment, saying: ‘I withdraw Mr Speaker. I withdraw. I withdraw. I withdraw and apologise.’

Mandy Maysey, a mother of three children with the neurological disorder and the president of Australia’s Tourette’s Syndrome Association, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘To have people in power using TS (Tourette’s Syndrome) as an insult, is horrible.’

‘Living with TS is a daily battle and people with TS are fatigued from all of the flack they take on a daily basis. 

‘I am horrified and disgusted that anyone would use it as a put down – as Prime Minister, he should be ashamed of himself.’

The association also issued a statement of its own, saying it was ‘incredibly disappointed and frustrated by Mr Albanese’s flippant attitude in using Tourette Syndrome as a put down’.

Mandy Maysey is pictured with two of her three children, who all have Tourette’s syndrome

‘By using Tourette Syndrome in derogatory manner is offensive to the 1 in 100 Australians living with Tourette Syndrome and highlights the daily struggle with prejudice and ridicule that people with TS live with.’

The association also extended an invitation for Mr Albanese to meet members of the community ‘to really get a feel for what Tourette Syndrome is really like away from the stereotypes and negativity’.

Tourette’s Syndrome is a neurodevelopment disorder that can manifest as vocal or motor tics with symptoms that vary from minor to debilitating and life-altering, depending on the patient.