Overview
- In July the prime minister’s comments and hand gestures about prized Crown Melons given by Japan’s Sanae Takaichi were widely reported as crude and prompted calls from opposition MPs for a formal apology.
- Japan has publicly downplayed the episode, with Ambassador Kazuhiro Suzuki saying Canberra told Tokyo the remarks were misreported and an internal memo finding no ill intent.
- Coalition figures, citing 7NEWS’s publication of the Japanese exchange, have asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate the apparent leak and said the disclosure could be a criminal offence.
- 7NEWS and its political editor Mark Riley have refused to identify their source and defended source protection as central to reporting, saying they will not hand over the informant.
- The dispute has shifted Canberra’s focus from the original podcast to legal and political questions over leaks and press freedom, and the next steps to watch are any AFP action and whether the prime minister faces sustained pressure to apologise.