Australian PM apologises after ‘inappropriate’ comments about Kylie Minogue

Hit by post-podcast clarity

During an appearance on the Bush Deep podcast with comedian Nikki Osborne, the Australian leader was asked whether he would “shag, marry or date” Minogue, actress Nicole Kidman or entertainer Rhonda Burchmore.

“Oh, Kylie, clearly”, was the Australian Prime Minister’s response, even though he tried to avoid the question at first.

The condemnations were quick all over, as one MP even labelled his remarks “entirely inappropriate”, while another added that they were “disrespectful to women… and demean the office of prime minister”.

Osborne’s podcast was launched earlier this year and she is best known for her crude comedy sketches on YouTube.

She is described on her podcast site as a “wildly inappropriate journalist” who asks “questions no one else would dare”.

The PM has issued an apology

The prime minister said: “I apologise unequivocally for the comments”, in a one-line statement he issued early on Monday.

His remarks were made in the prime minister's official residence in Canberra, where the interview took place, and which was released at the end of last week.

Albanese, 63, who married his partner Jodie Haydon in November, had initially responded: “I've just got married, I'm only six months in”, after Osborne first posed the question.

However, his “Oh, Kylie, clearly” comment came as he was pushed by Osborne.

“You'd marry Kylie, and shag her, and date her?” Osborne said.

“All of the above,” Albanese said. “She's terrific.”

The remarks were “entirely inappropriate”, Community Strong MP Zali Steggall said, adding that he “needs to learn to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist”.

Meanwhile, Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson said in a post on X the comments were “disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister.”

Speaking to news outlet ABC, Richard Marles, who is acting prime minister while Albanese is on a visit to the Pacific, said that the government was “utterly committed” to the elevation of women in society.

“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 said on the broadcaster's Radio National Breakfast programme.

The Australian PM was also asked about the worst gift he had received on an overseas jaunt.

He said a “strange” but ultimately “quite good” gift had come from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who brought two melons.

“She just came in looking like Pamela Anderson?” said Osborne, as Albanese smiled and waggled his hands in front of his chest.