Labor ministers stand by Albanese's 'melon' gesture, as AFP asked to step in
Federal police are being asked to investigate how a confidential Japanese memo about the prime minister's "melons" gesture made it into Australian newspapers, as Labor ministers express annoyance over repeated questioning about whether the prime minister made a crude joke.
Labor ministers have expressed disappointment over ongoing inquiries into Anthony Albanese's hand gestures during a conversation about a melon gift from Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The opposition Coalition is now requesting the Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigate the matter after a confidential Japanese government memo downplaying the incident was leaked to the media.
Japan has acknowledged the media reports regarding Mr. Albanese's gestures but maintains that he did not make the comments as erroneously reported. The AFP has acknowledged receiving the Liberal senator's referral but has not yet commented further on its intentions to pursue the Coalition's allegations of an unlawful disclosure.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
