Anthony Albanese has defended hand gestures he made while discussing melons gifted by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, saying the interpretation that they were sexual was incorrect. The controversy matters because critics say the remarks and gestures were disrespectful towards a foreign leader and risked undermining the standards expected of Australia’s prime minister.

The exchange occurred during a podcast interview in which Albanese described receiving two Japanese Crown Melons, a luxury fruit given to mark Australia reopening imports from Japan in January 2026. Host Nikki Osborne then made a joke involving Pamela Anderson; Albanese later apologised for separate comments about singer Kylie Minogue, but the melon incident has prompted calls for an apology to Takaichi.