Comedian Stella Young, who is also a disability campaigner, says the prime minister's behaviour shows Australians have a long way to go to change patronising and disrespectful attitudes.
Ms Young says disabled and short-statured people are considered cute or a novelty and aren't treated with the dignity and respect afforded to others.
"When you face those attitudes on the bus or on the train or at the supermarket, it's pretty awful.
"But when you're faced with these attitudes by the prime minister of the nation, it's absolutely gobsmacking," she told AAP.
Stella Young is an amazing woman that I respect and admire greatly.... I listen to a lot of what she says and think she speaks from a place of experience.... I think Stella is 100% correct.... some people have a HUGE way to go if they think it is appropriate to do what Rudd did.
