Teal MP Monique Ryan has called Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s July podcast with comedian Nikki Osborne “pretty cringe” following fresh criticism of comments he made about a “couple of melons” the Japanese leader gifted him, which he has denied was a sexual innuendo.
Speaking to Nine’s Today show this morning, Ryan said, “I think that whole interview was pretty cringe.
“It’s disturbing to hear that the Japanese government has expressed some concerns about it. I think we can probably expect better … Especially when we’re talking about a really special gift that the Japanese state has given to the country. And if I was the PM, I’d call, pick up the phone to the Japanese prime minister and apologise to her on this one.”
Liberal senator Michaelia Cash appeared on the breakfast panel alongside Ryan, and called Albanese’s remarks “crude and dirty”.
But she reserved her harshest criticism for the women in Albanese’s cabinet, and demanded Foreign Minister Penny Wong personally raise the issue with the PM herself.
“Penny Wong’s hypocrisy, Tanya Plibersek’s hypocrisy, Catherine King’s hypocrisy is now on display. Their double standards are there for all Australians to see … As I said, I want to hear directly from our foreign minister. Did you raise this personally with Mr Albanese?”
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