Scott Morrison has been criticised online after saying he and Jenny were “blessed” to have children that aren’t disabled.

While answering questions about the future of the National Disability Insurance Scheme at the leaders’ debate against Anthony Albanese in Brisbane, the PM was caught off guard.

The audience member who asked the question, Catherine, said she had a four-year-old autistic son, and his NDIS funding had been cut by 30 per cent under the Morrison government.

Scott Morrison asked Catherine questions about her son before speaking of his own family.

“I can’t …,” he began.

“Jenny and I have been blessed, we have two children who haven’t had to go through that,” he continued.

“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.”

Former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who is also autistic, was quick to slam the PM’s comments online.

“Autism blesses those of us who have it with the ability to spot fakes from a mile off,” she said in a tweet, accompanied by the now infamous picture of her side-eyeing Mr Morrison.

Mr Morrison’s words caused widespread online fury during the forum, with many, including Labor’s NDIS spokesman Bill Shorten pointing out “every child is a blessing.”

Labor frontbencher Katy Gallagher, who also has a daughter with autism, also aired her criticism of the comment.

“I am “blessed” to have a child with autism. She teaches me things every day. Our lives are enriched by her,” she wrote.

However Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes, who is also a parent of a son with autism, slammed Mr Morrison’s opponents for “politicising” the issue and missing the point.

She said, “If that’s what you want to pick up from the Prime Minister, if you want to push this point that somehow he’s disregarding the experience … go away, stop politicising our experience if you’ve never been through it.”

Image credits: Getty Images