Australia’s prime minister has apologised for calling a former Australian of the Year and sexual abuse survivor “difficult”, saying it was only in reference to the hardships she has faced.

During a one-word response game, Anthony Albanese used the adjective to describe Grace Tame, who was named the 2021 Australian of the Year for her advocacy for child sexual abuse survivors.

Tame, 31, said the description was “misogynist’s code for a woman who won’t comply. History tends to call her ‘courageous’.”

It prompted Albanese to apologise “if there was any misinterpretation” and that Tame “has had a very difficult life, but she deserves great credit for turning that into a benefit for others”.

But hours later, Tame dismissed Albanese’s apology, taking to Instagram to post: “Spare me the condescension, old man. We all know what you meant.”