Australian PM apologises for 'inappropriate' comments about Kylie Minogue

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued an unequivocal apology on Monday for comments he made during a podcast interview the previous week about singer Kylie Minogue. In the interview, which took place at the prime minister's official residence in Canberra, comedian Nikki Osborne asked Albanese whether he would "shag, marry or date" Minogue, actress Nicole Kidman, and entertainer Rhonda Burchmore.

Albanese, who married his partner Jodie Haydon in November, initially tried to avoid the question, saying he had been married only six months. However, after being pressed by Osborne, he responded: "Oh, Kylie, clearly." When Osborne clarified whether he would marry Minogue and sleep with her, the PM added: "All of the above. She's terrific."

The remarks sparked sharp criticism from several members of parliament. Independent MP Zali Steggall called the comments "entirely inappropriate" and said he needed to learn to push back and lead by example. Shadow Communications Minister Sarah Henderson posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the comments were "disrespectful to women, embarrassing to Australians, and demean the office of Prime Minister."

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is standing in while Albanese is visiting the Pacific, defended the government's commitment to the elevation of women in society during an interview on ABC's Radio National Breakfast. He noted that this is the first government in history with an equal number of men and women in cabinet.

During the interview, Osborne also asked Albanese about the worst gift he had received on an overseas trip. The PM said a "strange" but ultimately "quite good" gift came from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who brought two melons, to which Osborne responded that Takaichi "came in looking like Pamela Anderson."

In a one-line statement issued on Monday morning, Albanese said: "I apologise unequivocally for the comments." The podcast host, Osborne, describes herself on her website as a "wildly inappropriate journalist" who asks "questions no one else would dare."