Anthony Albanese has found himself in the hot seat once again after offering a blunt one-word response regarding child sexual abuse survivor and former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame.
During the Future Victoria summit on Wednesday night, Albanese participated in a rapid-fire Q&A session, where he was challenged to answer questions with just a single word.
“I believe there are 12 or 13 questions, one-word answers if possible. Let’s begin,” said Herald Sun editor Sam Weir, addressing Albanese on stage.
“I’ll give it a shot,” replied the Prime Minister.
When asked to describe Ms. Tame, who was honored as the 2021 Australian of the Year, Albanese simply said, “difficult.”
In response, Grace Tame reacted on Thursday morning by sharing a pointed message from sex abuse survivor and advocate Harrison James, which took a sharp jab at Albanese.
‘Difficult is the misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply. History tends to call her ‘courageous,’ Mr James captioned a photo with Tame.
He added: ‘Love you Grace Tame. Thank you for refusing to be anything but brave.’
When asked to provide a description of Ms Tame, the 2021 Australian of the Year, Anthony Albanese replied: ‘difficult’
The 2021 Australian of the Year hit back at Albanese’s comment on Thursday morning
Aussie musician and former manager of The Wiggles, Paul Field, also publicly expressed his support on Thursday morning.
‘We need more and more ‘difficult’ women, like Grace Tame. Always speaking truth to power. Continued love and strength to her,’ he wrote.
He ended the post with a quote from late environmentalist Jane Goodall: ‘It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there’s so many of us.
Greens leader Larissa Waters led the barrage of backlash to Albanese’s comment.
‘Labelling women as difficult won’t silence us. It won’t stop us speaking truth to power. Next time try ‘unbreakable’ or ‘warrior’ or ‘fierce’ Prime Minister,’ she said.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young added. ‘Some of my best friends are ‘difficult’ women….(OK, all of them, and I love them for it!)’
Everyday Aussies were just as outraged and branded it as a ‘betrayal’.
They also called for Albanese to do better.
‘Couldn’t say inspiring, or courageous, or powerful or ‘great,’ one wrote.
Another added: ‘Grace Tame is so courageous and tenacious. This is so disappointing from our PM.’
Grace Tame reposted a supportive message from sex abuse survivor and advocate Harrison James
Aussie musician and former manager of The Wiggles, Paul Field, says that Australia needs more ‘difficult’ women like Grace Tame (pictured together)
The backlash prompted others to leap to Mr Albanese’s defence.
‘The cue was ‘Grace Tame’ in which he responded with ‘difficult’. The cue was not ‘women’,’ one wrote.
‘For those suggesting that he was calling women in general difficult, you are not interpreting this dialogue correctly.’
Another questioned: ‘Because he called one woman difficult, he is calling all women difficult?’
A third wrote: ‘Grace Tame is a depraved degenerate who has never done anything of value for the country or anyone else.’
Tame sparked controversy earlier this month when she chanted ‘globalise the intifada’ during a speech at a rally in Sydney protesting a visit from Israeli president Isaac Herzog.
The stunt sparked widespread calls the former Australian of the Year winner to be stripped of the honour.
Albanese’s latest swipe at Tame comes a year after she wore a shirt featuring the slogan: ‘F*** Murdoch’ at an Australian of the Year function he hosted at The Lodge in Canberra.
The Prime Minister’s comment about Grace Tame has divided Australia
It comes a year after Grace Tame wore a shirt featuring the slogan: ‘F*** Murdoch’ at an Australian of the Year function the PM hosted at The Lodge in Canberra
Tame (left) publicly supported Albanese when he was elected as Prime Minister in 2022
He and now-wife Jodie Haydon posed and smile for photos and shook hands with Tame during a short, awkward conversation.
‘It is something that, in my view, took away from the people who were there, and my focus was simply on that,’ Albanese told the ABC two days later.
‘I want debate to be respectful… and that’s a choice that she made. People are allowed to express themselves, but I thought it was disrespectful of the event and of the people who that event was primarily for.’
It was just one of several answers Albanese came under fire for during the rapid fire Q and A.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson also hit back after Albanese described her as divisive.
‘If he wanted to use the divisive for me, I’d say he’s been the most divisive Prime Minister we have ever had in this country,’ she told Sky News on Wednesday night.
