Grace Tame hits back at Anthony Albanese’s ‘misogynistic’ one word description

One word has landed Anthony Albanese in hot water with former Australian of the Year Grace Tame and sparked accusations of misogyny.

Asked for a single word answer to describe a number of individuals during a Q and A at the Future Victoria Summit on Wednesday, Mr Albanese shocked many when he described Ms Tame as “difficult”.

The response has sparked outrage, including from Ms Tame and on Thursday morning the Prime Minister apologised.

“I was at a forum. I was asked to describe people in one word and Grace Tame you certainly can’t describe in one word. She has had a difficult life, and that was what I was referring to,” Mr Albanese said.

“If there was any misinterpretation, then I certainly apologise. I think that Grace Tame has taken what is personal trauma and that awful experience that she had and channelled that into helping, in particular, other young women.”

The pair have previously had what appeared to be a warm relationship, posing for a number of happy snaps since Ms Tame was given the nation’s top honour in 2021.

And when Grace Tame, a child abuse survivor and advocate, was earlier this month widely condemned for her involvement in violent protests over Israel President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia and chanted “from Gadigal to Gaza, globalise the intifada”, Mr Albanese refused to criticise her.

That incident sparked calls for Ms Tame’s Australian of the Year title to be revoked and prompted NSW Premier Chris Minns to described her choice of words as “distressing”.

But the PM’s relationship with the former Australian of the Year, a child abuse survivor and advocate, now appears to have seriously soured.

Ms Tame hit back at the Prime Minister on Thursday morning, reposting a pointed message from fellow child abuse survivor and advocate Harrison James on Instagram.

“Difficult” is the misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply. History tends to call her “courageous”.

In a comment on his original post Mr James added, “Love you Grace Tame. Thank you for refusing to be anything but brave”.

“We need more and more ‘difficult’ women, like Grace Tame. Always speaking truth to power. Continued love and strength to her,” he wrote.

Ms Tame also reposted a photo of herself with Paul Oldfield who had written “We need more and more ‘difficult’ women, like Grace Tame. Always speaking truth to power. Continued love and strength to her.”

He also included a quote from famed English primatologist Jane Goodall, “It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there’s so many of us”.

Others defended Mr Albanese, one commented “The cue was ‘Grace Tame’ in which he responded with ‘difficult’. The cue was not ‘women’.

“For those suggesting that he was calling women in general difficult, you are not interpreting this dialogue correctly,” they wrote.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was also offended by Mr Albanese’s using the word “divisive” to describe her during the Q and A.

“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,” the One Nation leader said on Sky News.

“With the Voice, with the antisemitism, everything that’s happened. I just feel that he has divided this nation. He’s pitted Australian against Australian, and it’s a shame,” she said.

“Our country is nowhere near what it was before he took the reins of being prime minister for this country. Many people feel that way. It’s a shame.”