Australia’s prime minister refuses to apologise to Japanese counterpart over melon gaffe

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected calls to apologize for remarks made on a comedy podcast, which have been branded a "sexist melon gaffe" by opposition MPs. The controversy centers on comments made in early July during an interview on the Bush Deep podcast.

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She brought two, as you do.

During the interview, Albanese discussed receiving a gift of Japanese melons from Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. He reportedly made hand gestures in front of his chest while saying, "she brought two, as you do." The podcast host, Nikki Osborne, then joked, "She came in looking like Pamela Anderson."

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She came in looking like Pamela Anderson.

Albanese had not publicly addressed the comments until a parliamentary question time session. When asked by the opposition if he would apologize, Liberal MP Mary Aldred described his remarks as "foul-mouthed, classless" and "disrespectful." Albanese responded by rejecting the assertion and highlighting the robust relationship between Australia and Japan, stating, "Australia and Japan have never been closer or more strategically aligned."

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I reject the assertion in the question.

Despite the opposition's demands, Albanese reiterated the strength of the bilateral partnership, citing recent economic, strategic, and security collaborations. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Japan's government, in a diplomatic cable sent in July, stated they detected no "ill intention" in Albanese's comments and noted "sensationalised reporting in the Australian media." Some analysts, like Shiro Armstrong of the Australia-Japan Research Centre, have called the issue a "non-issue" in Japan, noting it only gained traction in Australian media weeks later.

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Australia and Japan have never been closer or more strategically aligned. And my government has taken our special strategic partnership to new heights.