Melongate: NSW Premier Chris Minns rescues PM Anthony Albanese from more melon questions

The New South Wales Premier has stepped in to shield a stumbling Anthony Albanese from questions over the Melongate saga, while the Senate pushes for the government to release all diplomatic correspondence on the matter

Premier Chris Minns on Thursday joined Albanese for a tour of the Tomago Smelter to highlight a joint bailout but was repeatedly questioned about his appearance on a lewd podcast where he discussed his Japanese counterpart’s melons and “shagging” Kylie Minogue.

Pressed by a reporter to explain what his hand gestures near his chest meant when discussing Sanae Takaichi’s diplomatic gift, Mr Albanese initially stumbled and failed to answer before Mr Minns stepped in to prevent further questions.

“Go and ask 1000 workers what they care about today,” Mr Minns interjected.

“Honestly this is the biggest announcement for this region in a generation, can we just talk about it for five minutes.”

Reporters at Tomago were not able to return to the subject before Mr Albanese ended the press conference.

On Monday evening, reports emerged of a diplomatic message dated July 13, sent by the Japanese government, which “noted” the “sensationalised reporting in the Australian media” about Mr Albanese’s comments in an interview with podcaster Nikki Osborne.

The following day The Nightly revealed a senior Japanese official was “surprised” that the confidential correspondence between the Japanese Prime Minister’s office and Anthony Albanese was leaked to Australian media outlets.

In Parliament on Thursday, Anthony Albanese again refused to apologise for his innuendo-laden remarks as the opposition pursued the matter in Question Time for the third consecutive day.

“This morning the Prime Minister was asked yet again about his classless comments on the bush deep podcast. Yet again he refused to give a straight answer,” Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said.

“To save him from embarrassment, the NSW Premier stepped in and shut down the question. Why won’t the Prime Minister man up, stop hiding behind his colleagues and take responsibility for his grubby behaviour?”

Responding to the question Mr Albanese again referred to a statement issued by Japan’s ambassador in Canberra Kazuhiro Suzuki, who claimed the embassy had been told the Prime Minister: “did not make the comments in the way that has been reported”.

Meanwhile in the Senate on Thursday the Albanese Government has been ordered to produce Tokyo’s full correspondence to the Prime Minister’s department after sections of the diplomatic notice was leaked.

Federal Police have already been asked to investigate the “unauthorised disclosure” with the Coalition demanding to know whether the Prime Minister’s office was responsible for the leak.

On Thursday, the Greens and Independent Senator David Pocock voted with the Coalition and One Nation in the Senate for an “order to produce documents” relating to the saga, with only Labor resisting the move.

Under the Senate order, the government has until Monday to produce: “The official correspondence from the government of Japan to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, reported by media outlets to have been dated 13 July 2026, concerning the Prime Minister’s comments in an interview with podcaster Nikki Osborne,” it listed.

“All correspondence between the Prime Minister’s office and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet concerning the official correspondence from the government of Japan referred to in paragraph (a), including emails, letters, text messages, instant messages, handwritten notes, minutes, briefings and submissions; and all internal documents held by the Prime Minister’s office concerning the official correspondence from the government of Japan referred to in paragraph (a), including emails, letters, text messages, instant messages, handwritten notes, minutes, briefings and submissions.”