Australia's prime minister has apologized to parliament after comparing the opposition leader to Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels - the latest in a series of gaffes that have left people questioning his ability to govern.
Tony Abbott referred to Bill Shorten as the “Dr. Goebbels of economic policy” during question time for claiming that Labor had repaired the budget while in office.
Abbott immediately apologized profusely as parliament erupted.
“I withdraw. I withdraw. I withdraw, Madam Speaker," Abbot said, as Mark Dreyfus, the Labor Party's most senior Jewish MP, rose in outrage.
“I withdraw. I withdraw. I withdraw, Madam Speaker," he repeated.
On Feb. 12, Abbott was again forces to say sorry after using the word “holocaust” to describe the Labor government’s impact on defense jobs.
“I’m sorry... I’m sorry and I withdraw,” he said, quickly replacing the word “holocaust” with “decimation.”
Last month, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop apologized to Indonesia after Abbot tied a donation of A$1 billion ($774 million) in tsunami aid to the fate of two Australian nationals on death row in Indonesia, along with efforts to disrupt visits by Australians to the Indonesian tourist island of Bali.
Bishop called the comments "unhelpful."
Abbott has come under fire this year over a number of blunders and narrowly survived a party leadership vote at the beginning of February.
A Newspoll survey for The Australian newspaper in February showed Abbott’s personal approval at a record low and gave him the worst ranking for any prime minister since 1994.
He has alienated many Australians with his apparently autocratic style – making so-called “captain’s calls” on controversial issues.
Australia's Grand Mufti, Dr. Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, has publicly advised him to give up his day job, saying he should “work in any field other than politics.”
Goebbels was Adolf Hitler’s propaganda minister.
He played a key role in the Nazi Party's persecution of Jews.
