Australia news live: RBA interest rates decision due today; PM defends Japan relationship after Coalition question over ‘classless’ melon comment

Per The Guardian, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is defending comments he made about a pair of crown melons he received as a gift. The opposition Coalition has labeled the remarks a 'national embarrassment' and diplomatically inappropriate, though Japan—which gave the gift—downplayed the incident in a memo sent last month, saying they didn't believe the comments were made with ill intention. Shadow foreign affairs minister Ted O'Brien argues that Japan's diplomatic grace doesn't excuse what he calls a damaging gaffe to one of Australia's most important partnerships.

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