PM apologises for crude Kylie Minogue remarks

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised for saying he wanted to “shag” pop darling Kylie Minogue in a crude podcast game after the remarks were condemned by women across the political spectrum.

Albanese played a game of “shag, marry, date” featuring famous Australian women in an episode of the Bush Deep podcast, after granting “Bushie”, aka comedian Nikki Osborne, exclusive access to his home for a rare sit-down interview.

“Shag, marry, date: Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, or Rhonda Burchmore?” Osborne asked.

After Albanese tried to dodge the question, saying he was only six months into his marriage, Osborne asked what he would do if the marriage went “tits up”.

“Oh, Kylie, clearly,” Albanese said.

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

“All of the above,” Albanese said.

The prime minister issued a brief statement through his office on Monday: “I apologise unequivocally for the comments.”

Community Strong Australia MP Zali Steggall said Albanese should be leading by example as the leader of the nation, and called on him to explain that he understood why the interview was offensive.

“I would invite him to make some comments around pausing and reflecting on his behaviour, and whether or not he properly understands how disrespectful that is to his wife and to women,” Steggall said.

“If we’re going to change culture, it’s actually going to change from the top. So there’s a real question about his lack of judgment in a moment like that to not have the presence of mind to think that this is an inappropriate conversation for the prime minister of a country to be having.”

Richard Marles, who is acting prime minister while Albanese is in Fiji, and Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek on Monday defended the prime minister, pointing to his majority-female caucus. But Steggall said that didn’t cut it.

“That doesn’t excuse disrespect, and actually respect is shown by conduct and actions, not by head counts.”

Coalition frontbencher Sarah Henderson told The Australian the comments were “disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians, and demean the office of prime minister”.

During the podcast interview, the prime minister also suggested he scheduled sex with his wife, Jodie Haydon, after watching football.

“Always a good aphrodisiac, a Souths win,” he said.

In another exchange – when asked about gifts he had received as PM – Albanese referred to the “couple of melons” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi brought when she visited in May, to which Osborne replied: “She just came in looking like Pamela Anderson.”

Osborne’s brash alter-ego has gained traction online for posting satirical and crude sketches, with millions of views on YouTube. The Bush Deep podcast is Nova Entertainment’s first video-led series.

It is not the first time the prime minister has been forced to apologise for off-the-cuff remarks made about women.

Earlier this year, Albanese labelled former Australian of the Year Grace Tame “difficult” during a word association game.

Supporters of the sexual abuse survivor advocate decried the comment as misogynistic, and Albanese attempted to apologise, claiming he had meant the prominent activist had had a difficult life. Tame dismissed his apology as condescending.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.