澳大利亚总理阿尔巴尼斯拒绝为其在喜剧播客《Bush Deep》中关于日本总理田中实纪惠赠送瓜的不当言论向对方道歉。[1]这些言论被指含有性暗示，引发媒体轩然大波，反对派随之要求其道歉。[1]在议会质询中，阿尔巴尼斯表示："我拒绝接受问题中的主张"。[1]
日本政府在7月曾通过外交渠道向澳大利亚表达立场，指澳大利亚媒体的报道"耸人听闻"，并称未察觉任何"恶意"。[1]前日本驻澳大使山上真一随后发表评论文章，将这称为"性别歧视瓜的笑话"，并指其"背离了两国的紧密联系"。[1]阿尔巴尼斯此前曾因在同一播客中提名歌手凯莉·米洛的言论而"毫无保留地"道歉。[1]
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declined to apologize to Japan's Prime Minister over controversial comments he made about a melon gifted by the Japanese leader during an appearance on a comedy podcast.[1] The remarks, which aired in early July on the podcast Bush Deep, drew accusations of sexual innuendo and sparked significant media attention and calls from opposition lawmakers for an apology.[1] In response to parliamentary questioning, Albanese stated: "I reject the propositions in the question."[1]
The Japanese government issued a diplomatic note to Australia in July, characterizing Australian media coverage of the incident as "sensationalist" while indicating it had not detected any "malicious intent."[1] However, former Japanese Ambassador to Australia Shinichi Yamakami published a commentary article characterizing the joke as "sexist humor about a melon" that "departs from the close ties between our two nations."[1] Albanese has previously apologized "without reservation" for separate remarks he made on the same podcast about singer Kylie Minogue, demonstrating a different approach to that controversy.[1] The Prime Minister has emphasized that the strategic partnership between Australia and Japan continues to strengthen.[1]