A former Japanese envoy to Australia has accused Anthony Albanese of making a \u201cmockery\u201d of melons gifted to him by Japan\u2019s leader.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister is facing calls to apologise to his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi amid accusations he referred to her breasts when discussing her gift of crown melons during a controversial podcast interview last month.<\/p>\n
His office has denied the claim.<\/p>\n
Ex-ambassador Shingo Yamagami on Tuesday said it was \u201cnot a political issue at all\u201d but \u201ca matter of decorum, diplomatic propriety and mutual respect\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in Australia or in Japan or anywhere else for that matter, you don\u2019t make a mockery of gifts from your friends, which are meticulously prepared and kindly presented,\u201d he told News24.<\/p>\n
Mr Yamagami refused to say if Mr Albanese should apologise but did ask him to support \u201cJapanese melon farmers\u201d and \u201ckeep on eating sweet and juicy melons for the rest of his time\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u2018Sensationalised\u2019<\/p>\n
Mr Yamagami\u2019s comments came after an official Japanese government missive sent to its embassy dismissed the melon saga.<\/p>\n
The Australian reported overnight that a diplomatic cable from July 13 \u201cnoted \u2026 sensationalised reporting\u201d after Mr Albanese\u2019s appearance on the Bush Deep podcast \u2013 the same interview in which he said he would \u201cshag, marry and date\u201d Kylie Minogue.<\/p>\n
Of his comments on Ms Takaichi, the cable said Tokyo believed there was no \u201cill intention\u201d and that \u201cno action\u201d would be taken.<\/p>\n
It also said that Japan would not provide commentary to let media \u201cmove on\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, the freshly reported cable has not stopped the Coalition and the crossbench from calling on Mr Albanese to apologise, with senior Liberal senator Michaelia Cash claiming that \u201che\u2019s embarrassed Australia\u201d and independent MP Monique Ryan saying \u201cit\u2019s disturbing to hear that the Japanese government has expressed some concerns\u201d.<\/p>\n
Those calls for an apology were put to Mr Albanese during the first parliamentary Question Time since the lengthy winter break.<\/p>\n
Accusing Mr Albanese of making \u201ca series of foul-mouthed, classless comments about women\u201d in the podcast, Liberal backbencher Mary Aldred asked: \u201cWill the Prime Minister personally apologise to the Prime Minister of Japan \u2026 for his disrespectful behaviour?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI reject the assertion in the question,\u201d Mr Albanese responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia and Japan have never been closers or more strategically aligned, and my government has taken our special strategic partnership to new heights.\u201d<\/p>\n
He pointed to the recent economic and security agreements he signed with Ms Takaichi during her visit.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrime Minister Takaichi is a friend of Australia and a friend of mine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Labor has rallied behind Mr Albanese.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman said there was \u201cno need\u201d for Mr Albanese to apologise and that coverage \u201cdidn\u2019t accurately reflect the nature of the conversations\u201d on the podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen reporting overnight that says that there\u2019s no concern from the Japanese government,\u201d Mr Gorman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrankly, I don\u2019t know why we\u2019re still talking about this.\u201d<\/p>\n