Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologized for comments made during an appearance on the "Bush Deep" podcast, which have drawn criticism from the opposition and sparked controversy. The remarks included a joke referencing a gift of melons from Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
During the podcast episode, published last Friday, Albanese recounted a visit from Takaichi in May, during which she presented him with two Shizuoka-grown melons. The gift symbolized the lifting of restrictions on Japanese melon imports. When host Nikki Osborne questioned if the melons were "smuggled," Albanese responded by saying the Japanese leader "has got a couple of melons" and made hand gestures. Osborne then quipped that the Japanese leader was "looking like Pamela Anderson."
Opposition communications spokeswoman Sarah Henderson called for Albanese to apologize to Takaichi for the comment, stating she was "caught up in his crude locker room talk." Henderson highlighted the segment as an example of remarks "beneath his office."
Another segment of the podcast that generated criticism involved a game of "shag, marry or date" where Albanese was asked to choose between Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman, and Rhonda Burchmore. Albanese initially stated he was "only six months in" to his marriage. When pressed by Osborne about what he would do "if it goes tits up?", he replied "Kylie, clearly" and agreed to "all of the above."
Political figures and commentators criticized these remarks, with some labeling them as "locker-room antics." Albanese issued a brief apology on Monday morning, stating, "I apologize unequivocally for the comments."
Albanese is currently in Fiji to sign a new treaty with the Pacific nation.