The Japanese ambassador to Australia, Kazuhiro Suzuki, has downplayed comments made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regarding a gift of melons from Sanae Takaichi. Mr Suzuki stated on Wednesday afternoon that Tokyo had been reassured by the Australian government that the prime minister "did not make the comments in the way that has been reported."
The comments, made during an interview on the Bush Deep podcast in early July, involved Mr Albanese discussing Japanese leader Takaichi giving him Japanese melons. He reportedly made hand gestures and said, "she brought two, as you do." The podcast host, Nikki Osborne, joked, "She came in looking like Pamela Anderson."
The Coalition has continued to express outrage over the comments, with opposition leader Angus Taylor demanding an apology from the prime minister. Senior shadow ministers Ted O’Brien and James Paterson have called for the Australian federal police (AFP) to investigate the apparent leaking of a diplomatic cable to The Australian newspaper, suggesting the prime minister’s office may be involved. The AFP has not confirmed if it will investigate.
Labor ministers have defended Mr Albanese, with Housing Minister Clare O’Neil calling the AFP referral a "silly political stunt." Mr Albanese has also dismissed the Coalition's concerns, stating the AFP is independent and will investigate what it deems appropriate.