Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised for a hot-mic gaffe captured during the UN climate talks in Turkey, acknowledging he regretted being overheard discussing mobile phone radiation and making a crude anatomical reference during a private exchange.
“I of course regret that. I apologise,” Albanese told reporters on Sunday during a visit to the Australian warship HMAS Stalwart in the Philippines.
“This was a private conversation, we thought, between two friends having a bit of light-hearted banter.”
The incident occurred on Friday ahead of a meeting at the COP31 climate summit in Antalya. Cameras caught Albanese and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen discussing where they carry their mobile phones.
Albanese can be heard advising Bowen to store his phone away from his chest, warning it could “interfere with your rhythm.” Bowen laughed and asked if the concern was because phones are “a little bit radioactive.”
Albanese replied, “it makes absolute sense,” before Bowen mentioned he was more conscious of keeping his phone in his pants pocket. The Prime Minister then asked: “Because of your dick?”
Bowen agreed, adding: “Arguably more important than the heart.”
On Sunday, Albanese downplayed the episode, which took place before a meeting with business leaders in Antalya.
“No one was hurt or harmed. We weren’t having private banter which criticised anyone,” he said.
The swift apology contrasts with previous controversies involving the Prime Minister, including a prolonged dispute over comments about a gift of melons from Japan’s then-Digital Minister Sanae Takaichi during a podcast appearance. Albanese also previously apologised for a remark about singer Kylie Minogue made on the same episode of the Bush Deep podcast.
The melons comment risked escalating into a diplomatic incident, as Albanese repeatedly insisted his remarks and accompanying hand gestures were not a reference to breasts. Japan’s government subsequently sent a diplomatic cable to Australia stating they detected no “ill intention” in Albanese’s statement and criticised “sensationalised reporting in the Australian media.”
The Coalition criticised Sunday’s exchange. Opposition frontbencher James Paterson told News24 the remarks were unfortunate and could damage Australia’s reputation on the world stage.
“That locker-room talk like that has a time and a place and it’s not at international summits when you’re the prime minister of Australia talking to your energy minister,” Paterson said.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth dismissed the criticism, characterising the comments as a joke between meetings.
“I know that a hot-mic incident is very exciting for people … but really, there are bigger issues to tackle and discuss,” she said.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister similarly described the hot-mic comments as “a joke in between meetings.”
Albanese is currently in the Philippines for the ASEAN summit and high-level diplomatic meetings, including an expected engagement with US President Donald Trump. He is scheduled to hold formal bilateral talks with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday and visited a Jollibee fast-food outlet to mark the chain’s expansion into Australia.
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