Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued an apology after making what he described as 'inappropriate' remarks about singer Kylie Minogue during a podcast interview. The comments, in which he admitted he would 'shag, marry and date' the pop star, have drawn widespread condemnation from politicians and the public.
Podcast Remarks Spark Outrage
Albanese made the remarks on the Bush Deep podcast, hosted by comedian Nikki Osborne. The interview took place inside the prime minister's official residence in Canberra, which added to the controversy. Osborne asked Albanese whether he would 'shag, marry or date' Minogue, actress Nicole Kidman or entertainer Rhonda Burchmore. Initially, Albanese tried to avoid the question by noting he is a married man, but then replied: 'Oh, Kylie, clearly.' When pressed by Osborne, he added: 'All of the above. She's terrific.'
Apology and Political Fallout
On Monday, Albanese issued a statement saying: 'I apologise unequivocally for the comments.' The apology came after strong criticism from fellow politicians. Zali Steggall, an independent MP, called the remarks 'entirely inappropriate' and said Albanese 'needs to learn to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist.' Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson described the comments as 'disrespectful to women,' 'embarrassing to Australians,' and said they 'demean the office of Prime Minister.'
Government Response
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is standing in while Albanese visits the Pacific, defended the government's record on women's issues. Speaking to ABC, Marles said: 'From time to time, we obviously do different interviews to the one we are doing now, but I think the other point to make here is that the government that the PM leads is the first in history that has had equality in terms of the number of men and women in cabinet.' Marles added that the government is 'utterly committed' to the elevation of women.
Context of the Podcast
Nikki Osborne, the podcast host, is known for her crude comedy sketches on YouTube. She describes herself as a 'wildly inappropriate journalist' who asks 'questions no one else would dare.' The incident has reignited debate about sexism in Australian politics and the appropriateness of such interviews with sitting leaders.
