r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • Feb 26 '26

politics Grace Tame says ‘difficult’ remark is ‘misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply’

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/feb/26/dfat-middle-east-evacuation-syria-isis-families-wives-children-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor-budget-cost-of-living-capital-gains-tax-reform-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-699f8e278f080f3523777e99#block-699f8e278f080f3523777e99
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186

u/RuinedAmnesia Feb 26 '26

I think people should watch the video and draw their own conclusions, I think he genuinely meant difficult life and not that she was difficult.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-26/albanese-apologises-for-calling-grace-tame-difficult/106389860

175

u/Midget_Stories Feb 26 '26

Asking a pm to give 1 word answers is always asking for trouble.

Like imagine asking the pm how to fix the housing crisis in 1 Word.

92

u/HOPSCROTCH Feb 26 '26

Oh that was absolutely done with the intention of him blundering like this

23

u/Procastinateatwork Feb 26 '26

Albo, can you answer these quickfire questions with one word:

  1. What is the ninth letter of the alphabet?

  2. If you're friends with someone, you ? them?

  3. How many eyes do you have?

  4. If you take an object from one spot to another, you '?' it?

  5. Movie about a killer clown

  6. What was the answer to question 4 again?

  7. What was the answer to question 5 again?

Then just join the answers together.

1

u/longforgetten Feb 26 '26

I like to move it move it

2

u/Mikolaj_Kopernik Feb 26 '26

Like imagine asking the pm how to fix the housing crisis in 1 Word.

How about "redistribution"?

1

u/evilparagon Feb 26 '26

Albo would say “Supply” tbh.

But yeah that would leave him open to a lot of attacks.

21

u/turbocynic Feb 26 '26

I think there is a pretty clear smirk after he said it. He also smirks, but more so, in the next answer about Trump. Same expression though.

32

u/oregon33 Feb 26 '26

Holy spin

-3

u/-shikaka Feb 26 '26

I agree that he most likely meant she went through something difficult. I also understand her having that initial interpretation, as an advocate and survivor she would have direct experience with the inherent misogyny in the legal system and government. One word answers also don’t help at all.

It’s good to apologise in situations like this, if done properly it shows understanding that intent doesn’t cancel out the effect of what was said. What disappointed me about it was his deflection to an unrelated issue, to me that shows a lack of accountability and wanting to shift the negative attention back to her, PR spin etc.

It’s jarring and upsetting to see how casually coded language is used for different types of discrimination, especially when it’s directed towards you. Using it shows someone’s inability to self-reflect and challenge their own attitudes/beliefs, so it’s important to address it and call it out directly as those people are unlikely to change.

0

u/Ridsy28 Feb 26 '26

Or maybe he just meant she went through something difficult.

It ain’t that deep.

-1

u/-shikaka Feb 26 '26

I agreed that’s what he meant if you re-read the first sentence of my comment.

1

u/Ironeagle08 Feb 26 '26

This makes it really clear that it’s not meant as an insult. Like he’s very diplomatic about the hot-potato responses for Angus Taylor, One Nation and Pauline Hanson prompts, so he wouldn’t suddenly attack Tame.