Anthony Albanese breaks silence on decision to appear on Bush Deep podcast: ‘That was an error’

Anthony Albanese has said that his decision to appear on a podcast that led to weeks of outrage regarding his risque comments on the Japanese Prime Minister, Kylie Minogue and other matters, was a mistake.

Appearing on ABC’s 7.30 last night, the Prime Minister said that if he had his time over, he would probably not appear on comedienne Nikki Osborne’s Bush Deep podcast again.

“If I had my time again, which you don’t, then I wouldn’t have done that podcast,” he told the ABC on Thursday.

“We have a view which is trying to talk to talk to as many people as possible, but clearly, that was an error.”

The problem-laden podcast episode sparked major controversy, mainly for Mr Albanese’s reference to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and to the two prized melons she gifted him.

The controversy - dubbed ‘Melongate’ - stems from the hand gestures the Prime Minister made towards his chest while explaining to Ms Osborne during the interview that he had received two high-end Crown melons from Ms Takaichi during her official visit to Australia in May.

“She brought two and they’re beautiful,” he said while making a gesture with both hands in front of his chest.

There was also considerable backlash from his ill-considered reference to Australian pop megastar Minogue, after nominating her in a game of “shag, marry, date”.

While he has unequivocally apologised for saying he would “shag” Minogue on the podcast which aired in July, he has refused to admit any sexual innuendo in his comments about Ms Takaichi.

That’s despite the fact Australia was forced to quickly assure Japan that Mr Albanese’s comments about their female leader’s melons were not offensive “in the way that has been reported”.

Coverage of the comments prompted a letter from Tokyo to Canberra, which said there had been ‘‘sensationalised reporting in the Australian media’‘ about the interview.

That was leaked to several media outlets.

No action would be taken by the Japanese government over the incident, the letter said.

The Australian Federal Police this week confirmed it would investigate the leaking of correspondence between Japanese and Australian diplomats about the melon comments.

Last week Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and other Liberal figures repeatedly demanded the prime minister apologise to Ms Takaichi.

“Even if they were a gaffe, they were wrong and there are serious consequences from the unserious podcast that the prime minister hosted in The Lodge,” Mr Taylor said.

The saga even threatened to overshadow this week’s talks between Defence Minister Richard Marles with Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi in Canberra on Tuesday aimed at an agreement for Japan to use Australian ranges for missile tests.

Mr Marles said discussions were well under way for allowing Japan to use Australian ranges for its own tests, such as for its hypersonic missile program.

Mr Koizumi said the issue of the melon comments were not discussed in the meetings.

“Before I visited Australia, the Australian side already told the Japanese side ... that (Mr Albanese) did not mean it that way,” he said.

The Japanese minister also confirmed he had spoken with Mr Albanese since arriving in Australia.

The podcast interview also featured the PM making a bizarre joke about Australia taking over New Zealand at one point.

Towards the end of the interview, after topping up his glass of scotch, Mr Albanese joked about Australia’s constitutional history and the fact that New Zealand is mentioned in the Australian Constitution.

“We could take over New Zealand. It’s still in our Constitution. We can just do it. Sorry,’’ Mr Albanese laughed.