Most of the media initially ignored the prime minister’s innuendo as they went to town on his crass Kylie comment. Plus: Victoria drowning in AI

Anthony Albanese must be ruing the day he agreed to what was, at face value, a softball interview on the Bush Deep podcast with the comedian Nikki Osborne. It initially made headlines when he nominated Kylie Minogue for all three categories playing “shag, marry, date” (he later apologised “unequivocally” for the comments).

Now, melon-gate has arrived, and to the Coalition a diplomatic crisis is on our hands. But why is it only making headlines now, a month later? The podcast aired on 3 July, when the PM too part in a crude exchange about receiving “a couple of melons” from Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, smirking as he gestured with his hands in front of his chest.

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