Labor Ministers Defend Albanese's 'Melon' Gesture Amid AFP Probe Referral

Australian Labor ministers have continued to defend Prime Minister Anthony Albanese against opposition demands for an apology over his remarks about a gift of two melons from Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. The Prime Minister has resisted calls to apologize for what the opposition deemed "foul-mouthed" and "classless" references to women, made on the Bush Deep podcast last month.

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The shadow foreign affairs minister and I have written to [the] AFP commissioner to ask that there be an investigation into the apparent unlawful disclosure of confidential correspondence from the government of Japan to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Adding a new dimension to the controversy, Liberal senator James Paterson has requested the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to investigate the alleged unlawful disclosure of an internal Japanese government memo. This memo, obtained by media outlets, reportedly downplayed "sensationalised reporting" by Australian media and stated that Japan did not believe there was any "ill intention" in Albanese's remarks. Senator Paterson accused the government of leaking the memo to "exonerate the prime minister."

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This is a serious matter. It is important that our closest allies have confidence that when they share confidential correspondence with us that it will not find its way in the media.

"The shadow foreign affairs minister and I have written to [the] AFP commissioner to ask that there be an investigation into the apparent unlawful disclosure of confidential correspondence from the government of Japan to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet," Senator Paterson stated. He emphasized the seriousness of the matter, stressing the importance of allies' confidence that confidential correspondence will remain private. The AFP confirmed it received the referral but declined to comment.

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The Liberals have completely lost the plot, referring podcast comments to the Australian Federal Police, I mean, how ridiculous.

Government ministers dismissed the Coalition's referral to the AFP as a "stunt." Housing Minister Clare O'Neil expressed frustration, calling the situation "parlour games" while the government focuses on cost-of-living issues. "The Liberals have completely lost the plot, referring podcast comments to the Australian Federal Police, I mean, how ridiculous," O'Neil said. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek echoed this sentiment, urging a focus on more significant issues like family violence and homelessness, stating, "Maybe we should focus on the big issues."

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I have said all I am going to say on this on Monday. We are here talking about family and domestic violence, helping women out of homelessness. Maybe we should focus on the big issues.