澳大利亚反对党领袖安格斯·泰勒要求总理安东尼·阿尔巴尼斯为其在播客节目中关于日本首相赠礼的评论道歉[1]。阿尔巴尼斯在喜剧演员尼基·奥斯本主持的"Bush Deep"播客中讨论了日本首相高市早苗今年访澳期间赠送的"王冠瓜"礼物，泰勒认为相关言论存在不当暗示[1]。泰勒表示："评论不配来自总理办公室。它们是侮辱性的，总理应该做出个人道歉"[1]。
阿尔巴尼斯的发言人否认存在不当暗示，但此事已引发澳日外交风波[1]。前日本驻澳大利亚大使山上真吾在周一刊登于《澳大利亚人报》的评论中批评阿尔巴尼斯"随意嘲笑"了高市早苗[1]。王冠瓜作为为特殊场合保留的礼物，在这一背景下引发了外交敏感问题[1]。这已是阿尔巴尼斯在同一播客中第二次引发争议，他此前因说想与流行歌星凯莉·米洛发生关系而道歉[1]。
Australia's opposition leader has called for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to personally apologize for comments made during a podcast episode regarding a gift of premium melons from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takashima.[1] The remarks, aired during comedian Nikki Osbourne's "Bush Deep" podcast, have sparked diplomatic tension between the two countries.
Angus Taylor stated that the comments were "unbecoming of the Prime Minister's office" and described them as "insulting," demanding a formal apology from Albanese.[1] The Prime Minister's office denied that any improper insinuation was intended in the exchange.[1] Takashima presented a pair of crown melons to Albanese during her visit to Australia this year, gifts typically reserved for special occasions.[1]
The controversy has drawn international attention, with former Japanese Ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami publicly criticizing Albanese's remarks as "casually mocking" toward Takashima in a Monday opinion piece in The Australian.[1] This marks the second controversy stemming from Albanese's appearance on the same podcast; he previously apologized for comments in which he expressed a desire to "shag" pop star Kylie Minogue.[1]