Anthony Albanese’s fatal flaw spooks Labor colleagues

August 14, 2026 — 5:00am

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If Anthony Albanese has a fatal flaw – and every politician has one – it is his stubbornness.

That flaw has been on full display this week as the prime minister has been engulfed by a scandal entirely of his own making: melon-gate has embarrassed and damaged Albanese’s standing, to Australia’s detriment, and hurt Australia-Japan relations.

It has also hurt Albanese’s standing with his colleagues. During private conversations this week with Labor people, across factions and states, from the backbench to the cabinet, it’s clear they remain unconvinced by the prime minister’s explanations and excuses.

It was nearly six weeks ago that Albanese appeared on a bawdy podcast, Bush Deep (the title is a big hint), with comedian Nikki Osborne. He took the bait when she asked him about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s gift of a pair of crown melons during her visit in May. Japan’s former ambassador to Australia Shingo Yamagami reignited the matter when he wrote a blistering opinion piece in The Australian, labelling Albanese’s gesture “insulting” and ignorant.

Yamagami, a political conservative who remains close to Coalition figures including Tony Abbott and Peta Credlin, told me this week it was up to Albanese whether to apologise to Takaichi.

Japanese ambassador moves to quash melon drama, defend Albanese

Initially reluctant to address it, Yamagami said he changed his mind after reading a piece in the English-language The Japan Times by journalist Waka Ikeda. The article carried the headline “Sanae Takaichi: The prime........

© Brisbane Times