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<\/p>\nPrime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised if his labelling of 2021 Australian of the Year and child sexual abuse survivor Grace Tame as “difficult” was misinterpreted, saying he was referring to her “difficult life”.<\/p>\n
He made the comment when asked to give a one-word response to a rapid-fire list of people and news topics as part of a word association game at the Future Victoria conference, presented by the Herald Sun newspaper and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n
“If there was any misinterpretation, then I certainly apologise,” Mr Albanese told reporters.<\/p>\n
“She has had a difficult life and that was what I was referring to. What Grace Tame has done is turn that difficult experience that she had into being a strong advocate for others.”<\/p>\n
He described Ms Tame as a “strong and powerful advocate”, while also saying he opposed her recent chanting of “Globalise the intifada” at a pro-Palestine rally.<\/p>\n
“Now there are other issues, such as the language that Grace Tame used, that I disagree with, at the demonstration that was held in Sydney,” he said.<\/p>\n
“That’s why it’s impossible to describe people in one word.”<\/p>\n
In his answers, broadcast on Sky News, the prime minister also called Pauline Hanson “divisive”, Donald Trump “president”, former prince Andrew a “grub”, One Nation voters “frustrated”, while passing on Barnaby Joyce.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ms Tame posted on Instagram referencing Mr Albanese’s comment, saying “‘Difficult’ is the misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply”.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Grace Tame posted a photo on Instagram referencing the word “difficult”. (Supplied: Instagram)<\/p>\n
His one-word description of Ms Tame has attracted condemnation on social media, with some calling his comment “disappointing”.<\/p>\n
“Labelling women as difficult won’t silence us,” Greens leader Larissa Waters wrote.<\/p>\n
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young wrote: “Some of my best friends are ‘difficult’ women \u2026 (Ok, all of them, and I love them for it!)”<\/p>\n
The outspoken advocate was dealt a blow this week when the former school teacher who sexually abused her, Nicolaas Ockert Bester, was deemed unfit to stand trial<\/a> over “menacing” social media posts targeting her.<\/p>\n Ms Tame catapulted to national fame in 2021 when she was awarded Australian of the Year for her work advocating for child sexual abuse survivors.<\/p>\n At the time, she was highly critical of the Morrison government’s response to allegations of sexual assault and a toxic workplace culture in parliament.<\/p>\n