PM apologises for disability comment

Scott Morrison says he is deeply sorry for the offence caused by saying he felt ‘‘blessed’’ to have children who did not have disabilities.

The prime minister made the comment during Wednesday night’s first leaders’ election debate, sparking a major backlash.

‘‘I meant no offence . . . but I accept that it has caused offence to people . . . and deeply apologise,’’ he said yesterday. ‘‘I was seeking to respect the challenges they face.’’

Labor finance spokeswoman Katy Gallagher, who has a daughter with autism, said the comment was insensitive and hurtful to parents and children with a disability.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham defended Morrison, saying the comments were in relation to not having to deal with the complicated National Disability Insurance Scheme bureaucracy.

Morrison continued his election campaign in Brisbane yesterday, promoting a plan to make life easier for Australians in outer suburbs. The government will provide A$28.2 million (NZ$86m) for 66 successful projects to address mobile phone blackspots across the country, and a further A$78.5m (NZ$31m) for projects that address mobile phone and connectivity problems in outer urban and urban fringe areas. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was on the New South Wales south coast after claiming a narrow win from the first leaders’ debate. Albanese won 40 per cent of the audience vote, compared to 35 per cent for Morrison, with 25 per cent undecided. The two leaders traded blows over stances on asylum seeker boat turnbacks, after Morrison accused Albanese of being inconsistent on the issue. – AAP