Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, has criticised the prime minister for a sarcastic comment made to a Liberal frontbencher. 

Anthony Albanese made the comment when being interrupted by Shadow Treasurer, Angus Taylor during Question Time.

“Have you got Tourettes or something? You just sit there, babble, babble, babble,” he said. 

Albanese immediately withdrew and apologised for the comment. 

Gareth Ward was the first Minister for Disabilities from 2019 until 2021 who had lived experience of a disability. Ward lives with albinism and is legally blind. 

Ward said that he has been bullied as a result of his disability including by some of his parliamentary colleagues.

“I’ve felt the very horrible sting from people who feel my condition should be targeted, mocked and ridiculed. This behaviour is unacceptable.”

Albanese returned to the chamber and apologised for the remark, calling it “unkind” and “hurtful.”

Premier Chris Minns recently came under fire for a comment made about the Kiama MP, calling him “blind Freddie” in a press conference in Sydney — in a response to media regarding the MP’s late night trip to Parliament House in his underclothes.

Ward argued that if a non-Labour MP had made a similar comment about someone living with a disability, there would “rightfully be outrage.”

“Disability discrimination is not acceptable in any workplace, including our State and Federal Parliaments,” he stated.

Jordon Steele-John, Greens Senator and disability rights advocate, also expressed his disappointment on social media, saying, “If our PM could stop using disability as the butt of his jokes, that would be great. Casual ableism is still ableism.”