SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sidestepped calls to apologise on Tuesday after a clip emerged of him engaging in crude banter about a gift from his Japanese counterpart.

Albanese had already faced a backlash and apologised over comments made during an interview last month with the Bush Deep podcast in which he said he would “shag” singer Kylie Minogue. But separate comments during that interview in which he joked about a gift from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during her visit to Australia in May drew furor this week from his political opponents.

During the conversation with host Nikki Osborne at his official residence, the Australian leader joked that he’d received a “strange” present of a Japanese royal melon from Takaichi.

In Japan, premium melons are considered luxury items and can cost more than AUS$270 ($190), according to Japan’s former ambassador to Australia. When the host asked if she’d smuggled the fruit through Australian customs, Albanese held his hands up and said “got a couple of melons”. “She came in looking like Pamela Anderson,” the host replied.

Australia’s opposition leader has called for Albanese to apologise over the “insulting” joke.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2026