PM Albanese urged to apologise as Japan formally raises 'melons' gag

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing mounting pressure to personally apologise to his Japanese counterpart after Tokyo formally raised concerns about crude remarks he made during a recent podcast appearance, elevating the controversy into a diplomatic incident.

Japan's decision to address the matter through official correspondence with Canberra has prompted rare bipartisan agreement — both the crossbench and the coalition say the Prime Minister owes an apology over comments he made about a ceremonial gift presented to Australia by the Japanese state.

Independent MP Monique Ryan said the interview had been embarrassing and fell short of the standard expected of a national leader. She said Albanese should pick up the phone and apologise directly. "I think we can expect better from our chief of state, especially when we're talking about a very special gift the Japanese government gave to this country," she said.

Opposition Senator Michaela Cash was more blunt, describing the podcast remarks as "crude and dirty" and the resulting fallout as a fully-fledged diplomatic incident. She confirmed the coalition's foreign affairs spokesman Ted O'Brien had met with Japanese officials to express the opposition's deep regret over the matter.

"When the Prime Minister's conduct is formally raised by the Japanese government, he hasn't just embarrassed himself — he's embarrassed Australia," Senator Cash said.

Cash also turned her fire on Foreign Minister Penny Wong, demanding to know whether Wong had personally raised the issue with Albanese or with Japanese counterparts. "Penny has spent years lecturing Australians about standards and respect," she said. "I want to know whether she told her own Prime Minister to apologise." The government has not issued a formal apology.

In a separate story drawing sharp debate, Sydney's Strathfield Council has passed a motion requiring English translations on all commercial signage. Other languages remain permitted, but businesses must include an English version alongside any non-English text.

Ryan said the move was an overstep by local government, arguing small businesses should be free to present themselves as they see fit. "We want councils focused on rates, rubbish and roads — not interfering in how a shop chooses to face the world," she said.

Senator Cash opposed the additional regulatory burden on struggling small businesses, while separately arguing that migrants settling in Australia should learn English to participate in daily life and work. "Small businesses know their customers and know what works for them — they're already doing it hard enough without another layer of council regulation," she said.