It is what children would call cringe. You can also call it a garden-type of sex. You can definitely call it too much information.
The revelation that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had nominated Kylie Minogue as his “shag, marry, date” pick was something none of us needed to know, and something we all wish we didn’t.
Albanese made Kylie’s comments during a podcast appearance with comedian Nikki Osborne.
To be fair, it was a looser style of interview, the kind designed to show the relationship of a politician.
Is this related?
Not to criticize women like me. It’s tiresome proof that not as much has changed as we’d like to think.
The prime minister did apologize of course, and quick-wittedafter those remarks were widely publicized.
Maybe it’s our own fault. We complain that our politicians are dishonest, and we ask why they can never speak up. This is part of Pauline Hanson’s appeal, according to conventional wisdom.
But when they do, we mourn and punish them for going out of bounds.
Unless, unless … why does the relationship translate to what Donald Trump might call “locker room talk”?
Is it not possible to be normal and funny, and also respect women? Making non-sexual jokes?
It was always a wink-wink type of interview. The podcast is called Bush Deepwhich appears to be a sexual term. Osborne introduces herself as “Bushie”, a hot Barbie-meets-Steve Irwin character who flaunts lots of leg and boasts 152,000 YouTube subscribers. His previous videos were viewed by millions.
As the prime minister notes in the podcast, he generally does not invite anyone to the Lodge for an interview.
“All advertising will be disappointed,” he tells Osborne, with a whisky, as he lounges in the chairs in front of the fireplace.
“Because I usually don’t let anyone in here.”
Why did he let Osborne in? It’s a moot question, as is the question of why his media advisers let him do it.
To connect with a younger audience? To show his authenticity in the era of anti-politicians? To reach the so-called “low news” who have turned off mainstream news?
The omissions from the podcast only show how difficult it is for politicians to navigate outdated media (such as this one) and new social media news sources.
If only it didn’t have to be so stupid. Osborne’s opening line to the interview was: “PM: that’s a bit perfect, isn’t it?”
The quality of the questions didn’t improve from there and included questions about whether Albanese is in any WhatsApp groups with “big dog” world leaders, softballs like “Do you think most journalism is clicky now?” and search, “Would you rather eat poop that tastes like lollies or lollies that taste like poop?”
It is not even that it is not suitable for the office of the prime minister, although it is true.
This kind of thing is not good for anyone.
At least the PM refused to answer the question about poop sweets.
But he lashed out about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi bringing a melon as a gift, which made him look ungraceful and cynical.
Osborne’s schtick is kind of a Benny Hill-bimbo thing, though it’s unclear whether he’s mocking the bimbo trope or just playing with it. He even asked about the PM’s sex life. He didn’t have to answer, but he did.
In France, they have celebrated philosophers on television discussing politics.
One longs for patriotism, but it’s hard not to cringe when this is presented as an Australian cultural output.
The little scandal is the latest in a steady tradition of (male) prime ministers performing and getting into trouble for being what they might call a “boy”, even though the word itself describes the blinkered nature of this type of comedy, where the men are in the club and the women aren’t.
Scott Morrison offended actress and activist Pamela Anderson when asked about his efforts to free Julian Assange in 2018.
Speaking on a Gold Coast radio station, Morrison joked that “I’ve had a lot of colleagues who have asked me if they could be my special envoy to sort out the issue with Pamela Anderson”.
And then, of course, there was Tony Abbott, whose sexist remarks could fill one of those little books that sell on bookstore shelves, and probably have.
In 2013, he said that Liberal candidate Fiona Scott had a “sexual attraction”, and in a separate incident that year, he described himself as “a man with ugly daughters”.
In 2014, Abbott appeared on host Jon Faine’s ABC radio show and took a a call from a pensioner named Gloriawho said he had to work as a phone sex operator to make ends meet. Video footage captured Abbott winking at Faine. He was lambasted for it.
While Albanese is on an official visit to Fiji, his foot soldiers were sent to explain – Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, and (admittedly very reluctant) Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Their talking points emphasized the characteristics of Albanians in promoting women, in politics and policy. They noted his meeting of the majority of women.
“All I can say about women’s equality in this country is that no government has been better for it, and no prime minister has been better for it,” Plibersek said on radio Monday.
The best advice came from a surprising corner.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said on Monday that the prime minister “has to be smarter than that”.
Joyce said the Albanians should have replied: “No, no, we cannot answer such questions. And thank you very much, but no thank you.”
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, opinion and expert analysis. Subscribers can subscribe to our weekly Domestic Politics newsletter.
