<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" rel="" target="" title="Anthony Albanese"><span>Anthony Albanese</span></a><span> has apologised to 2021 Australian of the Year and child abuse survivor </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/grace-tame" rel="" target="_blank" title="Grace Tame"><span>Grace Tame</span></a><span> for any offence caused after he used the word "difficult" to describe her.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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 </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pauline-hanson-policies-stance-on-immigration-housing-voting-record-explained/1a21d57d-cddd-4ba5-b1ce-0b564e205b79" rel="" target="_blank" title="One Nation's Pauline Hanson"><span>One Nation's Pauline Hanson</span></a><span> among the list of names.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When he was asked to use a word to describe Tame, the PM said "difficult".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-passport-scheme-how-dual-citizens-have-been-impacted/884e44d6-d134-48f5-9281-b46e2c1818ca" rel="" target="_blank" title="Panicked expats and 'ten pound poms': The people impacted by passport rule"><strong><span>Panicked expats and 'ten pound poms': The people impacted by passport rule</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/woman-charged-operating-unregistered-daycare-sydney/8a32bc78-0bc4-4d67-bfaa-b20849aba401" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Woman charged with $400,000 fraud over alleged illegal daycare</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His answer was met with swift condemnation on social media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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'."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-apologises-to-grace-tame-over-difficult-label/baf7dee7-5455-4b2a-80f6-d452e7c0d288" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The PM today apologised over the "misinterpretation" when asked about the backlash in Canberra, telling reporters he was referring to Tame's difficult life.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If there was any misinterpretation, then I certainly apologise," Albanese told reporters.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She has had a difficult life and that was what I was referring to.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/all-glue-stores-to-close-in-australia/3d2d48af-3703-4315-b054-ba9b9f743363" rel="" target="_blank" title="Glue Store to close down in shake-up by retail giant"><strong><span>Glue Store to close down in shake-up by retail giant</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What Grace Tame has done is turn that difficult experience that she had into being a strong advocate for others."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's why it's impossible to describe people in one word."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Greens leader Larissa Waters also criticised Albanese's answer and said it was "completely unwarranted" in a social media post.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/chris-baghsarian-remains-found-in-search-for-missing-grandfather-sydney/66bdff80-d78a-4f28-974f-a9b31bf840be" target="" title="Two men charged over alleged kidnapping, murder of Sydney grandfather"><strong><span>Two men charged over alleged kidnapping, murder of Sydney grandfather</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support is available from the</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>at</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>