Re-Elected Liberal MP John Alexander Cracked A Disabled Joke During His Victory Speech
Alexander has been condemned by disability activists.
Liberal MP John Alexander has been slammed by disability activists after making an off-colour joke during his victory speech after the Bennelong byelection on Saturday night.
The former tennis pro turned politician resigned from parliament last month after it emerged that he, like so many of his colleagues, was actually a dual citizen. Had he lost the subsequent byelection, the Turnbull government would have forfeited its one-seat majority in Canberra. But despite a swing of about six percent to his Labor opponent, former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, Alexander ultimately emerged victorious.
Still, whatever relief the Prime Minister must have been feeling would have been soured by the experience of standing on stage next to Alexander as he embarked on a bizarre anecdote about disabled parking stickers.
The joke related to a back injury that Alexander suffered during his career as a tennis player.
“The doctor at the time said, ‘you have eligibility for a disabled sticker’,” Alexander remarked. “I said, ‘I still have some pride’. That was before I entered politics.”
Alexander’s comments were greeted with awkward laughter by the crowd at the victory party, and were quickly condemned by disability activists.
“I think [the anecdote] is inappropriate because it is suggesting that the use of a disability parking sticker is in some way inferior,” said former Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes. “The use of a disability sticker is what some of us need to do to compensate for our disability and some of us are quite proud to be people with disabilities, doing what we do.”
Alexander was also criticised by a number of people who either have a disability or are related to someone who does.
“The doctor suggested I apply for a disability sticker and I said ‘no! I still have my pride’ – @JAforBennelong
Those who use the ACROD card (like me) have nothing to be ashamed of. Those who peddle the idea that disability=weakness, do.
Apologize. Now.#BennelongVotes #auspol— Senator Jordon Steele-John (@Jordonsteele) December 16, 2017
Hmmmmm. My Mum had loads of dignity/pride AND a disability sticker. Grace in victory would have sufficed, no need to implicitly insult people…….#auspol #BennelongByelection
— JillHennessyMP (@JillHennessyMP) December 16, 2017
I use a disability parking permit.
I am not ashamed. I take pride in everything I do. Using a permit is no reflection on me as a person.
But you should be ashamed John Alexander, your attitude is nothing to be proud of. #auspol #bennelong #disability https://t.co/hiupbrpe2o
— Ali France (@alifrance5) December 17, 2017
I am thinking if I should tell my stroke disabled wife that the LNPs John Alexander says she can retain her pride if we hand back the disabled sticker. Would it help if we got rid of the wheelchair as well?
— Walter Dixon (@WalterDixon2) December 16, 2017
This isn’t the first time that Alexander has been criticised for making offensive remarks. During the campaign, he was forced to apologise after video emerged of him making a rape joke in a pub in Brisbane in 1995.
Good to see he learnt from the experience though, hey.
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