
Albanese defends 'melons' remark as calls for apology grow over Japan PM
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denies the claim that his joke about Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi’s ‘melons’ referenced breasts, saying he wasn’t making a sexual remark. As pressure mounts for an official apology over the Bush Deep podcast exchange, critics warn the quip could strain Australia–Japan relations, with a former ambassador weighing in. The episode also revisits a prior apology Albanese gave for comments about Kylie Minogue during the same interview.
