PM apologises to Grace Tame over one-word description

Thursday, 26 February 2026 11:44

Anthony Albanese has apologised to 2021 Australian of the Year and child abuse survivor Grace Tame for any offence caused after he used the word "difficult" to describe her.

The prime minister was asked to give a one-word response to a list of high-profile people while attending the Future Victoria conference yesterday evening, with Tame and One Nation's Pauline Hanson among the list of names.

When he was asked to use a word to describe Tame, the PM said "difficult".

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pays a visit to the Royal Children Hospital and speakds to some staff there. 17 February 2026. Photo: Eddie Jim.

His answer was met with swift condemnation on social media.

Tame responded by re-sharing fellow survivor Harrison James' post on Instagram, which read: "Difficult is the misogynist's code for a woman who won't comply. History tends to call her 'courageous'."

The PM today apologised over the "misinterpretation" when asked about the backlash in Canberra, telling reporters he was referring to Tame's difficult life.

"If there was any misinterpretation, then I certainly apologise," Albanese told reporters.

"She has had a difficult life and that was what I was referring to.

Grace Tame attends the Maggie Marilyn show during Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023 at The Navy Bear, May 15.

"What Grace Tame has done is turn that difficult experience that she had into being a strong advocate for others."

Albanese went on to describe Tame as a "strong and powerful advocate" but said he opposed words she used at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney last month.

"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 added.

"That's why it's impossible to describe people in one word."

Greens leader Larissa Waters also criticised Albanese's answer and said it was "completely unwarranted" in a social media post.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 09: Grace Tame speaks during a protest against the visit of Israel's President Isaac Herzog on February 09, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. Herzog is on a visit to Australia from Feb 8-12 that will take in official engagements as well as meetings with the Jewish community. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

"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," Waters said.

"Some of my best friends are 'difficult' women….(OK, all of them, and I love them for it!," South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young commented in response.

During the rapid-fire interview, Albanese described former Prince Andrew as a "grub", Hanson as "divisive", said "best wishes" when asked to describe former opposition leader Sussan Ley and said One Nation voters as "frustrated".

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)

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