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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Business
Caitlin Cassidy

The melons rolled quite gently out of the gate – then suddenly became an avalanche for Albanese

Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi walks with Australia's PM Anthony Albanese, who gestures while talking
Anthony Albanese’s comment on a podcast that he had received ‘a couple of melons’ from Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, attracted little commentary for almost a month. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

Anthony Albanese must be ruing the day he agreed to what was, at face value, a softball interview on the Bush Deep podcast with the comedian Nikki Osborne. It initially made headlines when he nominated Kylie Minogue for all three categories playing “shag, marry, date” (he later apologised “unequivocally” for the comments).

Now, melon-gate has arrived, and to the Coalition a diplomatic crisis is on our hands. But why is it only making headlines now, a month later? The podcast aired on 3 July, when the PM too part in a crude exchange about receiving “a couple of melons” from Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, smirking as he gestured with his hands in front of his chest.

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