Penny Wong Reflects on Media Focus Over Her Sexuality, Says Voice to Parliament Debate Isn’t Over
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has revealed that early in her political career, she felt “stressed” by the intense media focus on her sexuality, questioning why her being a lesbian received so much attention compared to heterosexual politicians like former Prime Minister John Howard.
Speaking on the Betoota Talks podcast, Senator Wong reflected on being Australia’s first openly gay lesbian MP and how journalists seemed “fixated” on her identity rather than her policy views. “I got a bit kind of sick of, stressed, by the questions early,” she said, noting the focus on her being female, Asian, and gay overshadowed her desire to discuss substantive policy matters. “But I worked out later that it meant something to other people. So it was actually less about me.”
Wong also shared a personal boundary she set after taking on the Foreign Affairs portfolio: “I’m prepared to work really hard, but I’m not prepared to have a divorce and never see my kids.”
During the conversation, she also hinted that the Voice to Parliament debate may not be over for good, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declaring it “gone” after the failed referendum. Wong said she believes the public will eventually come to view the Voice in the same way as marriage equality — once controversial, but ultimately embraced.
“I think we’ll look back on it in ten years’ time and it’ll be a bit like marriage equality,” she said. “All this fuss… and people go, ‘did we even have an argument about that?’”
The Voice referendum proposed the creation of a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous advisory body, but it was rejected by voters in 2023. Albanese defended his decision to pursue the vote, saying it was the right thing to do, while Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has continued to criticise the move.
Senator Wong’s appearance on Betoota Talks marks her first podcast interview. The podcast is hosted by the satirical outlet The Betoota Advocate, which has previously collaborated with Labor’s campaign team as part of a broader digital media strategy.
