Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has issued an unreserved apology for comments made during a lighthearted interview on the Bush Deep podcast, where he participated in a game of 'shag, marry, date' and nominated pop star Kylie Minogue for all three categories.
Podcast remarks spark backlash
In the interview, released late last week, host Nikki Osborne asked Albanese to place Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, and Rhonda Burchmore in the game. Initially hesitant, Albanese cited his recent marriage to Jodie Haydon, but Osborne pressed, saying, 'But if it goes tits up, let's just pretend.' Albanese then responded, 'Kylie, clearly,' and when asked if he would marry, shag, and date her, he replied 'all of the above,' adding 'She's terrific.'
Another segment saw Osborne ask if Albanese and his wife were 'bonking like rabbits.' Albanese joked, 'Well, when we have time. After the footy. It's always a good aphrodisiac, a Souths [Sydney Rabbitohs] win.'
Formal apology issued
On Monday morning, Albanese's office released a one-line statement: 'I apologise unequivocally for the comments.' The apology followed criticism from politicians including independent MP Zali Steggall and Liberal shadow minister Sarah Henderson. Steggall reportedly called the game 'entirely inappropriate' and said Albanese should 'learn to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist.' Henderson described the remarks as 'disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians, and demean the office of Prime Minister.'
Defence from Labor colleagues
Labor minister Tanya Plibersek defended Albanese's record on gender equality, saying she hadn't heard the interview but noted, '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.' Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles also defended Albanese, stating, 'The prime minister has apologised unequivocally, so that's the first point to make.' He highlighted the government's achievements: the first cabinet with gender equality, a majority of women in caucus, and the lowest gender pay gap on record.
Liberal frontbencher Andrew Bragg, however, said the remarks were 'beneath his office' and 'he shouldn't have said them.'
Broader context of political media engagement
Politicians increasingly engage with new media platforms to reach younger audiences, often participating in informal interviews. Albanese's appearance on Bush Deep is part of this trend, alongside more serious interviews with mainstream outlets. He was in Fiji on Monday for a leaders' meeting, with plans to visit Solomon Islands and host leaders of Tonga and Papua New Guinea at the State of Origin decider.
