Media
|
News
August 12, 2026
Anthony Albanese’s most senior female colleagues have closed ranks around him to deflect allegations he made a crude and sexist joke about Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi’s “melons”, as the Prime Minister refused to apologise for the remarks.
Cabinet ministers Katy Gallagher and Penny Wong, who led Labor’s attack on Scott Morrison over the Brittany Higgins scandal, defended Mr Albanese as a supporter of women and said his remarks had been misinterpreted.
“I trust his assurance regarding misrepresentation of those comments,” Senator Gallagher said.
Former Liberal leader Tony Abbott, who was at times accused by Labor of sexism, said the ALP had “dreadful double standards”.
“If you don’t apologise, it doesn’t just look like a lapse, it looks like a very serious character flaw and very serious lack of judgment,” he told News24 on Tuesday night.
The opposition has asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate the release of a diplomatic note between the Japanese government and the Prime Minister’s department playing down his comments. The note, revealed by The Australian, said Japan accepted there was no “ill intention” in Mr Albanese’s remarks and blamed “sensationalised reporting” for the fallout from his innuendo-laden interview with comedian Nikki Osborne.
Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson and foreign affairs spokesman Ted O’Brien said in a letter to AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett: “We are concerned that a diplomatic note with a critical bilateral partner has potentially been provided to the media without authorisation.
“Given that communications between governments can be classified, it is possible this disclosure is a criminal offence under Division 122 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code.”
In an episode of Osborne’s Bush Deep podcast last month, Mr Albanese referred to a “strange” gift of two crown melons he received from Ms Takaichi during her visit to Australia in May. Responding to Osborne, who referenced Hollywood star Pamela Anderson, Mr Albanese said “She brought two, as you do”, while making hand gestures in front of his chest.
In the same interview, he said he would “shag” Kylie Minogue, a remark for which he apologised “unequivocally”.
He personally addressed his remarks about Ms Takaichi for the first time on Tuesday, rejecting opposition calls for him to apologise for making “disrespectful” and “foul-mouthed, classless comments about women”.
“I reject the assertion in the question,” he told parliament.
“Prime Minister Takaichi is a friend of Australia and a friend of mine. Australia and Japan have never been closer or more strategically aligned. My government has taken our special strategic partnership to new heights.”
Senator Wong accused the opposition of peddling “misinformation” and being “so desperate to score political points that they seek to confect a diplomatic issue”.
“I would say to those opposite that Prime Minister Takaichi is a friend of Australia and a friend of the Prime Minister, and the relationship with Japan is closer than it has ever been,” she said.
Asked how the “melons” remarks could have been misinterpreted, Senator Gallagher said: “I let other people make their judgments about it. I know the Prime Minister, I know there is no greater supporter of women than this Prime Minister,” she said.
“And you see that through the actions this government has taken to address gender equality and support women across the economy, and that’s because of his leadership.”
Other senior Labor women rushed to defend Mr Albanese, with Agriculture Minister Julie Collins saying she did not accept the Prime Minister was taking part in a crude joke while Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said she “completely” disagreed with such an interpretation.
Tokyo’s former ambassador in Canberra, Shingo Yamagami, said in The Australian on Monday that Mr Albanese’s “insulting” comments had damaged his standing in Japan and exposed a lack of strategic judgment.
He told News24 on Tuesday that it was up to Mr Albanese to decide whether to apologise for the remarks, which he said were clearly offensive. “I think in Australia or in Japan or anywhere else for that matter, you don’t make a mockery of gifts from your friends which are meticulously prepared and kindly presented,” he said.
However, the Japanese embassy was keen to move past the issue, saying in its diplomatic note that Tokyo wished to take “no action”, allowing the Australian media “to move on”.
It also assured the government the prized melons, worth $270 each, were legally procured in Australia, not “smuggled” as suggested in the podcast.
The embassy was reportedly surprised the note was leaked.
While Japanese officials have been reluctant to discuss the matter, the country’s social media users have been vocal in condemning the Prime Minister and Australians in general.