Scott Morrison Blasted For 'Blessed' Disability Comment

Photo by Jason Edwards - Pool/Getty Images

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese at the pre-election leaders' debate

The disability community has blasted Prime Minister Scott Morrison for saying he was "blessed" not to have a child with a disability.

During last night's leaders' debate, ahead of the May 21 federal election, Morrison and Labor Leader Anthony Albanese were asked by an undecided voter about the future of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

"We are grateful to receive funds through the NDIS, but have heard many stories of people having their funds cut recently under the current government, including our own," said a woman named Catherine who has a four-year-old son who lives with autism.

"I've been told, to give my son the best future, I need to vote Labor. Can you please tell me what the future of the NDIS looks like under your government?" she asked the PM.

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Morrison first asked Catherine what her son's name was, to which she responded, Ethan.

"Jenny and I have been blessed, we've got two children that don't — that haven't had to go through that," he then said.

"And so, for parents with children who are disabled, I can only try and understand your aspirations for those children. And then I think that is the beauty of the National Disability Insurance Scheme."

Watch the moment below:

This is the moment Scott Morrison told a mother of a son with autism that he and Jen were “blessed” because he doesn’t have a child with disabilities. Harmful ignorance. pic.twitter.com/L2Wzj8S96C
— Matt Burke (@matttburke) April 20, 2022

Grace Tame, Carly Findlay and many mothers of children living with disabilities are amongst those who have criticised Morrison for his remarks.

Writer, speaker and activist Findlay urged the PM to "stop seeing disabled people as burdens."

Dear @ScottMorrisonMP - please stop seeing disabled people as burdens. It is not a tragedy to be disabled or for parents to have disabled children. You only show interest in disabled people when it’s a photo opp. (And even then you don’t wear a mask.) Get the hell out. Now. https://t.co/IjkvF1A9A4
— Carly Findlay OAM (she/her) (@carlyfindlay) April 20, 2022

Disabled people - our value is not determined by how our Prime Muppet speaks about us.

We matter.

We deserve love, supportive & well funded programs like NDIS, opportunity, equality.

The world is blessed to have us.

(& we are blessed not to have Scott Morrison as our Dad.)
— Carly Findlay OAM (she/her) (@carlyfindlay) April 20, 2022

Autism blesses those of us who have it with the ability to spot fakes from a mile off pic.twitter.com/Ck41YcqAAq
— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) April 20, 2022

Each day they’re force fed kind platitudes instead of given the supports their kids need to get the best start in life. It’s not about being “blessed” w/ more able bodied children. It’s about seeing your child grow into their authentic selves & live a life of their choosing. 2/2
— Elly Desmarchelier (@EDesmarchelier) April 20, 2022

As a disabled adult, I just want to say to any disabled kids out there: everyone deserves care, love, respect, dignity, and human rights. God doesn’t make ppl disabled as a curse. And disabled ppl do not exist to be inspo or to teach others moral lessons https://t.co/OFoOM7dbpO
— Asher Wolf (@Asher_Wolf) April 20, 2022

I am proud, I am moved, that I am a parent of a son who is autistic. Every single day he teaches me so much. He makes my heart full.
— Louise Milligan (@Milliganreports) April 20, 2022

I can assure you, Morrison’s comments didn’t go down well in my household.

We have an autistic child.

And, yes, he’s a blessing.

I never thought I could hate Morrison anymore than I did before.
— Angie ✨ #AlboForPM ✨ (@AngieTrianta) April 20, 2022

To the 4.4 million disabled kids & kids-at-heart across Australia. You are not a burden, you are totally fabulous. I am proud to be part of our community and I am in solidarity with you all tonight 💚 #auspol #disabilitypride
— Senator Jordon Steele-John (@SenatorJordon) April 20, 2022

Woke up this morning feeling very blessed to be disabled - I reckon my parents are pretty happy about it too.

Feeling sorry for us and our families doesn’t help. Treating us equally, and giving us the choice and control over our own lives does
— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) April 20, 2022

Morrison has defended his comments since the wave of backlash, telling Nine radio this morning, "What I was saying in good faith… I was just simply saying that it's tough and I'm grateful that there are these hardships that I and Jenny haven't had to deal with."

"There are other things, but it's tough and it's hard," he continued.

"There is no greater love than a parent has for a child and particularly a child that has special needs — and it is a blessing. But I was simply trying to say in good faith that I haven't walked in your shoes, Catherine. I'm not going to pretend to say that I understand it as well as you do."

While one in six Australians (around 4.4 million people) has a disability, it’s often still discussed with a stigma of shame, othering or ignorance.

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As People With Disability Australia’s language guide says, “People with disability are often described in ways that are disempowering, discriminatory, degrading and offensive.

"Negative words such as ‘victim’ or ‘sufferer’ reinforce stereotypes that people with disability are unhappy about our lives, wish we were ‘normal’, and should be viewed as objects of pity.”

Refinery29 Australia has previously worked with Carly Findlay to create a guide of disability terms for allies to broaden their perspectives, and grow their understanding of disability.

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