Albanese refuses to apologise over joke about Japanese Crown melon gift

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has nothing to apologise for after joking on a podcast about a gift of Shizuoka Crown melons from Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The melons, presented at a Japan-Australia Summit Dinner, retail for $50–$150 each and carry deep cultural weight in Japanese gift-giving. Japan has not indicated offence. The criticism is domestic.