Anthony Albanese ‘trying to be cool’ to blame for podcast ‘error’

Anthony Albanese “trying to be cool” is to blame for the month-long saga that has haunted the Prime Minister since his controversial appearance on the Bush Deep podcast, according to Liberal MP Andrew Wallace.

Mr Albanese admitted on Thursday it was an “error” to go on the podcast, where he said he would “shag, marry (and) date” Kylie Minogue, described a South Sydney Rabbitohs win as a “good aphrodisiac” and joked about the his Japanese counterpart’s gift of melons.

He has denied any lewd intention in his comments about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s gift.

Mr Wallace said on Friday that Mr Albanese’s admission “was a concession from an old guy that was trying to be cool”.

“He should never have gone on that podcast,” the Liberal moderate told News24.

“Effectively, what he’s saying is that … he regrets all the trouble that he’s caused himself by going on this podcast.

“It was never going to end well, and unfortunately, this is … the trap that some politicians, even PMs of his experience, fall into.”

Mr Wallace added that politicians trying to reach new audiences should be better prepared and Mr Albanese’s failure to do so “has caused great offence to one of our strongest security partners and trade partners”.

Appearing on the ABC’s 7.30 on Thursday night, Mr Albanese said he “learned that I need to do better every day”.

“And of course, if I had my time again, which you don’t, then I wouldn’t have done that podcast,” he said.

“We have a view which is trying to talk to as many people as possible, but clearly that was an error.”

Originally published as Anthony Albanese ‘trying to be cool’ to blame for podcast ‘error’