Sky News host accuses Penny Wong of double standards in tense live TV clash about Albanese podcast

Published: 04:42, 10 July 2026 | Updated: 04:45, 10 July 2026 Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong was put on the spot when she was asked whether she would have been as forgiving if a conservative prime minister had made similar comments to those in Anthony Albanese's controversial podcast interview. Speaking on Sky News on Friday morning, Wong told presenter Laura Jayes that no concerns had been raised by either DFAT or her Japanese counterparts regarding Albanese's euphemistic comment about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi bringing 'a couple of melons' with her on her visit to Australia in May. The comment was a reference to the Japanese delegation presenting Albanese with two high-quality watermelons during the visit, symbolising the resumption of Japanese watermelon imports into Australia. 'The Prime Minister has made his apology, public, and clear, and I think the matter has been resolved,' Wong said. Jayes further quizzed Wong about the podcast, asking if the senator believed if it was 'sexist, misogynistic, in bad taste, cringy, or all of the above'. Wong, laughing off the line of questioning, pointed to Albanese's 'unequivocal apology', adding that 'the matter was now closed'.  But Jayes continued to press Wong. 'Do you understand that many would expect that you might have a different reaction and perhaps be less understanding if this was a conservative Prime Minister making those comments?' Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong has backed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when quizzed about his controversial appearance on the Bush Deep podcast with Nikki Osbourne Anthony Albanese is presented with a melon by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi  'I think if someone apologises unequivocally, I try to tell my children you should be gracious when someone apologises.'  Albanese earlier this week apologised for the controversial podcast where, in addition to the 'melons' comment, he also fielded several below-the-belt questions.  When asked to pick who he would 'shag, marry, or date' out of Kylie Minogue, Nicole Kidman and Rhonda Burchmore, Albanese - after a brief hesitation - responded 'Kylie, clearly'.  He was also asked about his sex life with new wife Jodie Haydon, revealing that a winning performance by their beloved NRL team South Sydney Rabbitohs was a 'good aphrodisiac'.