‘Nobody’s saying a word’: Radio silence on PM’s crude podcast remarks amid calls for Japanese PM apology

Anthony Albanese has refused to comment on whether he had apologised to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi over remarks he made on a podcast about two melons she gifted him.

There were just a string of crude comments made on the Bush Deep podcast with comedian Nikki Osborne. It included saying he’d “shag” Kylie Minogue and that a win by his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs was a “good aphrodisiac” for his sex life with new wife Jodie Haydon.

The Prime Minister had declared “Oh, Kylie, clearly” when offered a choice from Minogue, actress Nicole Kidman or entertainer Rhonda Burchmore in a “shag, marry, date” game.

While he had initially tried to avoid the question, he then said “all of the above” for Minogue when pressed which he’d pick if his recent marriage went “tits up”.

Following days of backlash, the PM issued an “unequivocal” one-sentence public apology for the Kylie remarks.

However on Thursday, Liberal Senator and shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson said that Mr Albanese also needed to say sorry to Ms Takaichi.

“He has embarrassed Australians and he has embarrassed our country,” Senator Henderson said.

Mr Albanese had said on the podcast that Ms Takaichi’s two Shizuoka-grown melons provided during her visit in May were a “strange” but ultimately “quite good” gift.

Osborne had jokingly likened them to “Pamela Anderson” before the PM made a hand gesture in front of himself at chest height.

The PM still hasn’t clarified whether Japan’s first female Prime Minister has been offered a direct apology for his reference to her royal melons.

The Japanese embassy in Australia declined multiple requests to comment on the remarks.

A string of Coalition members have criticised the PM for the remarks, including deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume who labelled them “sexist”, “awful” and “creepy”.

“The comments themselves were awful. They were sexist. They were creepy,” she told Sky News.

“But what really gets up my nose is the fact that my female Labor colleagues are nowhere to be seen.

“Nothing from Penny Wong about this weird, creepy, pervy stuff that’s come out from her own leader’s mouth.

“Where’s Clare O’Neill? Where’s Tanya Plibersek? Where’s Katy Gallagher?

“Nobody’s saying a word.”

TV personality turned podcaster Karl Stefanovic also blasted Mr Albanese’s comments as “greasy” on Thursday.

The podcast appearance has made headlines globally including in London and New York.

Several people inside the Labor Party questioned if the PM was prepared for the line of questioning given the host regularly included the game and sexual references in her episodes.

While Mr Albanese and other politicians have increasingly turned to podcasts and new media outlets to reach fresh audiences, the incident has prompted a rethink of this strategy.

The Prime Minister’s office didn’t respond to questions.