Live: Minister defends Labor's record on women following PM's podcast comments

Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has spruiked Labor's credentials on women's equality when asked about the prime minister's comments on a podcast last week.

Follow all the updates in our live blog.

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Mon 6 Jul 2026 at 7:20am

Mon 6 Jul 2026 at 7:20am

Zali Steggall says PM's comments on podcast 'entirely inappropriate'

By Joshua Boscaini

Community Strong MP Zali Steggall said it was "entirely inappropriate" for the PM to have made remarks about

The PM was asked on an podcast with Nikki Osborne who he was "shag, marry, date" out of Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore.

He initially refused to answer the question, but when pressed on who if his marriage broke down, he replied: "Oh, Kylie clearly".

Steggall, who represents the Wentworth on Sydney's northern beaches, says the PM shouldn't have participated in the "game".

"He needs to learn to push back, lead by example and call it out as sexist," Steggall says.

Mon 6 Jul 2026 at 7:13am

Mon 6 Jul 2026 at 7:13am

Plibersek defends Labor's record on women after PM's podcast comments

By Joshua Boscaini

Tanya Plibersek has backed Labor's record on women's equality when quizzed about the PM's recent comments on a podcast.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared on a podcast and he was asked by host Nikki Osborne who he would "shag, marry, date".

"Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman or Rhonda Burchmore?" Osborne asked the PM.

The prime minister initially didn't answer, saying: "I've just got married. I'm only six months in."

But pressed by Osborne on what would happen if his marriage broke down, the PM said: "Oh, Kylie clearly".

"You'd marry Kylie and shag her and date her?" Osborne asked. "All of the above," the PM replied.

Asked if the PM should apologise, the social services minister says she hasn't listened to the whole podcast but talked up the government's credentials on women's equality.

"I'm not going to comment on a podcast I haven't heard. I've heard a few seconds of it," Plibersek says.

"If what the prime minister is saying is that he's a fan of Kylie Minogue. I guess that puts him in a group with millions of other Australians, including me. I'm a big fan of Kylie's as well."

Mon 6 Jul 2026 at 7:08am

Mon 6 Jul 2026 at 7:08am

Good morning 👋

By Joshua Boscaini

Hello and welcome to this morning's federal politics live blog. It's great to have you with us bright and early this Monday!

I'm Josh Boscaini joining you live from Parliament House in Canberra, ready to bring you all today's federal politics news.

The winter parliamentary break might officially be underway but that doesn't mean politics stops.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Fiji to sign the Vuvale Union treaty with Fiji's PM Sitiveni Rabuka, which is set to lock in closer economic and security ties between the two countries.

Without further ado, let's get into the day and see what we get!