Australian Prime Minister Issues Unequivocal Apology After Podcast Comments About Kylie Minogue
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised without reservation after remarks he made during a comedy podcast appearance — in which he indicated he would pursue a romantic and sexual relationship with pop icon Kylie Minogue — drew swift condemnation from politicians across the political spectrum.
The comments were made during an appearance on Bush Deep, a video podcast hosted by Australian comedian Nikki Osborne, recorded at Albanese’s Canberra home over Canadian whisky. Osborne, who markets herself as a wildly inappropriate journalist willing to ask questions others would not, invited the 63-year-old prime minister to play a version of the party game marry, shag, date, offering Minogue, actress Nicole Kidman, and entertainer Rhonda Burchmore as candidates.
Albanese initially pushed back, pointing out that he had married his wife Jodie Haydon less than six months earlier. After some light prompting from Osborne, however, he answered definitively: “Oh, Kylie, clearly.” When Osborne asked whether he meant all three options — marry, date and sleep with — Albanese confirmed: “All of the above. She’s terrific.”
Political backlash from multiple directions
The remarks prompted rapid criticism from across the Australian parliament. Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson of the centre-right Liberal Party wrote on X that the comments were disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians, and demeaned the office of prime minister, adding that they made a mockery of Labor’s claim to champion women’s rights.
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg described the remarks as beneath the prime minister’s office. Independent MP Zali Steggall called the interaction entirely inappropriate and said Albanese should have pushed back rather than participated, arguing that leaders have a responsibility to call out sexist behaviour rather than engage with it.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is covering Albanese’s duties while the PM travels in the Pacific, told ABC News the government remained utterly committed to defending and elevating women. He pointed to the cabinet’s gender equality as evidence of that commitment, while acknowledging the interview represented a lapse in judgment.
The apology
Albanese subsequently issued a brief public statement: “I apologise unequivocally for the comments.”
Minogue has not publicly responded to the incident.
The episode is unlikely to have lasting political consequences, but it has generated significant media attention in Australia at an already sensitive moment for the Labor government, and has handed opposition figures a clear line of attack on an administration that has placed gender equality at the centre of its public identity.
