Anthony Albanese faces backlash and apologises for crude comments about Kylie Minogue on podcast amid calls for accountability
Anthony Albanese has apologised for offensive comments regarding Kylie Minogue, which were made during a podcast. His remarks drew condemnation from various women political figures and advocates, calling them degrading and inappropriate for a Prime Minister.The Prime Minister’s office issued a formal apology stating: “I apologise unequivocally for the comments”. Critics included Feminist advocates Zali Steggall and Sall Grover, who expressed disappointment in his choice of words.
Apology issued
Critics accused Albanese of trivialising his role with “locker room talk”. His comments came during a game on the podcast where he had to select between Minogue, Nicole Kidman, and Rhonda Burchmore.
Albanese insisted he was still enjoying his marriage to Jodie Haydon, his recent spouse. He named Minogue as his choice, describing her as “terrific”.
Albanese also responded humorously when asked about his relationship with Haydon, linking it to sports. Zali Steggall labelled his participation in the game as entirely inappropriate.
Opposition spokeswoman Sarah Henderson stated that the remarks were disrespectful to women and damaged the Prime Minister’s office reputation. Henderson noted that these comments contradicted Labor’s stance on gender equality.
The Prime Minister of Australia just appeared on a podcast where he was offered a list of women and asked which one he’d like to “shag”.
Rather than calling him out for answering the question, the mainstream media is treating it as a cute and candid moment.
So let us never…
— Caldron Pool (@CaldronPool) July 3, 2026
Widespread critique
The podcast was recorded at The Lodge, where Albanese resides. Advocates for women’s rights condemned the comments amidst ongoing discussions about sex-based rights in legislation.
Businesswoman Sall Grover remarked that Albanese’s comments reflect poorly on his understanding of women’s rights, suggesting he is resorting to degrading language for attention.
Rachael Wong, leader of Women’s Forum Australia, criticized Albanese’s track record on women’s issues linked to these comments. Melinda Tankard Reist expressed disapproval of Albanese’s engagement in such discussions, asserting it sets a poor example for the nation.
