Australian PM admits podcast misstep as foreign home purchases plunge

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said in an interview with the ABC that he regrets appearing on the comedy podcast Bush Deep, where a joke was made last month involving melons gifted to him by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. During the appearance, Albanese described the gift while making a gesture, prompting host Nikki Osborne to compare him to actress Pamela Anderson. The episode drew media criticism over its apparent sexual innuendo, and Albanese later apologised for parts of the podcast.

Asked what he had learned, the prime minister said he now believed it had been an error to appear on the show, despite his intention to reach as broad an audience as possible.

AFL scandal

Albanese also addressed an alleged sexual assault at Melbourne's Pullman Hotel early Monday, which Victoria police are investigating. He said his thoughts were with the women involved and that every woman and girl has the right to feel safe. He criticised the AFL's initial handling of the matter as completely unacceptable, comparing it unfavourably to the NRL's no-fault stand-down policy, which suspends players facing serious criminal charges before guilt is proven in court. Five Sydney Swans players were stood down for the rest of the season on Wednesday for breaching club standards, though none has been arrested or charged.

Foreign investment in housing declines

Separately, the Productivity Commission reported that approvals for foreign purchases of Australian property fell by more than 22% to 5,284 in 2024/25, driven largely by a government ban on foreigners buying existing homes. The ban was extended in the May budget until June 2029 but only fully took effect in April 2025, meaning its full impact will not be visible until next financial year. Overall foreign investment value still rose 32% to $256.4bn, mostly from commercial approvals. Parliament also passed legislation requiring foreign residents to pay a 30% capital gains tax, with a crossbench amendment extending a concessional rate for renewable energy investors until 2040.