澳大利亚总理阿尔巴尼斯在7月的一档播客采访中，对日本首相高市早纪赠送的高档蜜瓜做出了带有性暗示的言论和手势。[1]这些言论是在澳总理官邸The Lodge进行的采访中做出的，阿尔巴尼斯称"她带了两个。就像通常那样"，并配以不当手势。[1]这两个蜜瓜是高市早纪在5月访问澳大利亚时赠送给阿尔巴尼斯的礼物。[1]
日本前驻澳大使山上信吾随后在《澳大利亚人报》发表评论文章，谴责这一言论为"侮辱性笑话"和"随意嘲笑"。[1]澳大利亚反对党领导人安格斯·泰勒将此视为左翼总理虚伪行为的表现。[1]然而，澳大利亚社会服务部长谭雅·普利伯塞克则拒绝将该言论解读为性暗示。[1]
值得注意的是，日本官方和日本媒体对此事保持了沉默。[1]日本记者指出，从日本政界两派到男女性别、女权主义者甚至共产党，各方都未对此事发表公开评论。[1]尽管此番言论引发了外交关注，但两国双边关系未因此遭受重大影响。[1]
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made suggestive remarks and gestures about a luxury melon gifted by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a podcast interview in July, drawing criticism from Japanese officials and opposition lawmakers.[1] During the interview at The Lodge, the official residence of the Australian Prime Minister, Albanese referenced the two Japanese melons Takaichi had presented during a visit in May, saying "She brought two. As you do" while making an inappropriate gesture.[1]
The comments prompted strong pushback from Japan's diplomatic community. Former Japanese Ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami denounced the remarks as an "insulting joke" and said Takaichi had been "casually mocked" in a column published in The Australian.[1] Japanese political figures across party lines, journalists, and even feminist groups have remained largely silent on the matter, according to Japanese reporter Waka Ikeda.[1] Within Australia, opposition leader Angus Taylor characterized the incident as hypocritical behavior from a left-wing prime minister, while Services Minister Tanya Plibersek rejected the suggestive interpretation of the comments.[1]