Australian leader urged to apologise to Japan over melon gesture controversy

In an interview on the Bush Deep podcast, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described two melons presented by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and made a chest-level gesture, which former Australian ambassador Shingo Yamagami called insulting and a betrayal of the bilateral relationship. Opposition leader Angus Taylor said the conduct was beneath the prime minister’s office and urged a personal apology, noting that Albanese had already issued a statement.

Labor ministers Tanya Plibersek, Mark Butler and Catherine King defended the prime minister, emphasizing the strategic and economic importance of ties with Japan. The Japanese side has remained silent publicly, with only a critical opinion piece in one outlet highlighting the episode. The controversy follows an earlier podcast moment where Albanese joked about Kylie Minogue, for which he later apologized.