Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his plan to attend the wedding of shock jock Kyle Sandilands, whose bridal party includes a convicted drug smuggler and a man described by his book publisher as "Australia’s most notorious underworld figure".
Mr Sandilands has sparked repeated controversies over the years with his Sydney radio show, including claiming in 2022 that monkeypox was a "big gay disease", claiming in 2019 that the mother of Jesus was a "liar who got knocked up behind a camel shed", and airing an interview a decade ago with a distressed child who said she had been raped at the age of 12.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported the best man at the wedding this Saturday will be convicted drug smuggler Simon Main, who was jailed in Italy in 2000 for his role in a drug operation, and that former Kings Cross nightclub owner John Ibrahim will also be in the bridal party.
Mr Ibrahim was described by his publisher Pan MacMillan as the nation's most notorious underworld figure in promotional material for his autobiography The Last King of the Cross.
Mr Sandilands has a long and public friendship with both Main and Mr Ibrahim, whose colourful lifestyle alongside brother Sam Ibrahim was recently depicted in a Paramount+ series.
Mr Albanese said he was "not in charge of the invite list".
"I said I'd go. And I keep my commitments, including to Kyle Sandilands," Mr Albanese said.
"One of the things about Kyle Sandilands — I'll say this — a bloke who at one stage was homeless, living on the streets of Sydney, and has grown into someone who is a significant public figure, is a part of what is an Australian success story."
Mr Albanese did not confirm whether he would DJ at the wedding, which he said on air in January he had "promised" to do.
Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said there was "nothing wrong with going to a friend's wedding", but questioned why Mr Albanese would take a day off before the federal budget.
"Australians will rightly ask whether the Prime Minister should be spinning decks at a million dollar wedding when people can't afford their rent," Ms Ley said.
Recently-elected NSW Premier Chris Minns is also reportedly set to attend.
The ABC has contacted Mr Minns's office for comment.
On Monday, Mr Albanese appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O show where he discussed Anzac Day and spruiked the government's Defence Strategic Review.
Reminded by Mr Sandilands that his wedding was this weekend, the prime minister replied: "It's there, it’s in the diary. I'll be seeing you there."
"I'm looking forward it."
Mr Sandilands joked that he would seat Mr Albanese next to his mother, before asking whether aliens were real.
The Kyle and Jackie O show is Sydney's top rated radio breakfast show.
