Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has hit out at criticism from Tokyo’s former ambassador in Canberra who branded Anthony Albanese’s “melon” comments about his Japanese counterpart “insulting”.
Last month, the Prime Minister appeared on comedy podcast Bush Deep, where he referred to the gift of crown melons, the most prized fruit in Japan, given to him by Sanae Takaichi during her visit earlier this year.
He referenced the Japanese leader bringing “a couple of melons” before gesturing with his hands.
“She brought two, as you do,” Mr Albanese said after the host referred to Pamela Anderson.
Former diplomat Shingo Yamagami referred to the comments as a “gaffe” and an “unthoughtful joke” in an opinion piece for The Australian.
“It is a time for toiling and not for crude jokes at another’s expense,” Mr Yamagami wrote.
But Ms Plibersek described this criticism as “100 per cent wrong”, telling Seven’s Sunrise that Mr Yamagami was “wrong in his interpretation”.
“I completely disagree that he was in any way making the suggesting that the former ambassador is proposing,” Ms Plibersek said.
“I’m really glad you played (the clip of Mr Albanese’s comments) because I think people can make up their own minds.” This prompted One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce, appearing on the same program, to interject: “They have.”
Ms Plibersek then lashed the populist party’s leader, Pauline Hanson, for her recent appearance on a podcast with UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Robinson has served prison time for offences including assault, fraud and contempt of court.
“Your leader did a podcast with a convicted criminal … so I don’t think you’re on very strong ground on the podcast story,” she said.
