Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologized with a six-word statement after he implied he would “shag” pop star Kylie Minogue during a podcast game, drawing sharp criticism from politicians across the spectrum.
The Controversial Podcast Segment
Albanese appeared on Nova’s Bush Deep podcast hosted by comedian Nikki Osborne, who plays the character “Bushie.” The show is known for its unfiltered, chaotic interviews. During the segment, Albanese was asked to play “shag, marry or date” with iconic Australians including Minogue, Nicole Kidman, and others.
When asked about Minogue, Albanese initially hesitated, saying, “I’ve just got married, I’m only six months in …” Osborne retorted, “But if it goes t*ts up?” Albanese then replied, “Kylie, clearly.” Pressed further, he agreed to “all of the above” regarding marrying, shagging, and dating Minogue, calling her “terrific.”
Political Backlash
Opposition MPs seized on the remarks. Independent MP Zali Steggall called the comments “entirely inappropriate” and said Albanese should “learn to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist,” as reported by The Australian. Liberal shadow minister for communications Sarah Henderson described the remarks as “disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians, and demean the office of Prime Minister.” She added, “Mr Albanese's crude locker room talk makes a mockery of Labor's claim to be champions of women.”
Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg told ABC Radio National: “I think these comments were beneath his office and I think he shouldn’t have said them. It’s good that he’s apologised, but he shouldn’t have said it in the first place.”
The Apology and Defense
On Monday, Albanese’s office issued a one-line statement: “I apologise unequivocally for the comments.” Despite the apology, some defended him. Frontbencher Tanya Plibersek told 7NEWS: “If what the prime minister is saying is he’s a fan of Kylie Minogue, I guess that puts him in a group with millions of other Australians, including me.” She highlighted his record on gender equality, noting no government has been better for women’s equality.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles also defended Albanese, telling ABC Radio National: “The prime minister has apologised unequivocally … The government that the prime minister leads is the first government in our nation’s history which has had an equality in terms of the numbers of men and women in cabinet. It’s the first government ever to have had a majority of women in the caucus. Under this government the gender pay gap is the lowest that it has ever been on record.”
Context and Comparison
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of political leaders’ comments on women. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced backlash in 2021 for saying it was a “triumph of democracy” that women protesting gendered violence were not “met with bullets.” Albanese, meanwhile, traveled to Fiji on Sunday to sign a major treaty and meet with Pacific leaders and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
