Scott Morrison apologises for offence caused by saying he was ‘blessed’ to have children without disability

Scott Morrison at a press conference in Brisbane where he said he was deeply sorry his ‘blessed’ comment at the leaders’ debate ‘could have been taken in a different context’. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Scott Morrison has “deeply apologised” for offence caused by saying he was “blessed” to have two daughters without disability, despite claiming his opponents had “twisted” his words.

The comment in Wednesday’s leaders’ town hall to a woman with an autistic son whose NDIS care package had been cut was a low point for the prime minister in a debate narrowly won by Anthony Albanese.