Prime Minister Albanese apologises after comment on Kylie Minogue


Photo of Kylie Minogue and the Prime Minister

By Helen Livingstone, Sydney


Published: 16 minutes ago


Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued an unequivocal apology for remarks he made about pop star Kylie Minogue during an episode of the Bush Deep podcast with comedian Nikki Osborne.


The conversation began when Osborne asked Albanese to place celebrities Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore in a ‘shag, marry or date’ format. Albanese attempted to sidestep the question but eventually replied, “Oh, Kylie, clearly,” followed by a statement that the singer was “terrific.”


The remarks drew swift backlash from parliamentarians who described them as “entirely inappropriate” and “sexist.” Community Strong MP Zali Steggall condemned the comments for pushing MPs to “lead by example” and called for them to be called out as sexist. Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson posted on X that the words were “disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians and demean the office of Prime Minister.”


Albanese’s statement read, “I apologise unequivocally for the comments.” The PM told the media that the remarks were made in the prime minister’s official residence in Canberra and were not meant to offend. He also highlighted that the government remains committed to advancing women in society, noting that the current cabinet is a historic balance between male and female ministers.


The incident underscores tensions between informal media formats and expectations of official decorum. While the Bush Deep podcast seeks to ask “questions no one else would dare,” the controversy prompted a call for respectful discourse in public office. It also reaffirms the broader national conversation about gender equality in politics.


For more on this story, follow updates on the Australian politics page.