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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected calls to apologise on Tuesday over crude remarks about a gift from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a podcast interview.
Albanese faced new criticism after comments from last month’s Bush Deep podcast resurfaced, with opposition lawmakers accusing him of making an insulting joke about Takaichi.
During the interview at his official residence, Albanese described a Japanese royal melon gifted to him by Takaichi during her visit to Australia in May as a “strange” present.
The premium melons are considered luxury items in Japan and can reportedly cost more than A$270 ($190).
When host Nikki Osborne asked whether Takaichi had smuggled the fruit through Australian customs, Albanese raised his hands and said, “got a couple of melons.”
Osborne then replied, “She came in looking like Pamela Anderson.”
The comments have drawn criticism from Australia’s opposition, with the opposition leader calling on Albanese to apologise for what he described as an “insulting” joke.
Asked in parliament on Tuesday whether he would apologise for his “disrespectful behaviour,” Albanese rejected the demand.
“I reject the assertion in the question,” he said.
“Prime Minister Takaichi is a friend of Australia and a friend of mine,” Albanese added.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong also defended the prime minister, rejecting claims that the comments were intended as an insult.
“The prime minister has been clear that he did not mean for those comments to be interpreted in the way they have been by those opposite,” Wong said.
Albanese had already faced criticism over another comment from the same podcast, after saying he would “shag” Australian singer Kylie Minogue.
He later apologised for that remark.
