Address to the House of Representatives, Suspension of Standing Orders
Mr Speaker. I move — That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving the following motion immediately: That this House: condemns the recent behaviour of the Prime Minister concerning the Prime Minister of Japan, Her Excellency Sanae Takaichi, which was deeply disrespectful and beneath the office of Prime Minister; the Prime Minister refuses to apologise to Prime Minister Takaichi over his crass and demeaning behaviour; on Monday evening, reports emerged of diplomatic correspondence dated July 13, sent by the Japanese government, which related to the Prime Minister’s appearance on a podcast with Nikki Osborne; given that communications between governments can be classified, it is possible that this disclosure is a criminal offence under Division 122 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code; and in 2022, the Prime Minister said when dealing with foreign governments: “ one of the things I will do and a part of keeping faith is keeping private conversations private. the Prime Minister to attend the Chamber and make a statement of no more than 15 minutes, no later than 1:30pm on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, to apologise to the Prime Minister of Japan and explain to the House whether the Prime Minister or the Prime Minister’s Office unlawfully disclosed confidential and sensitive correspondence received from the Government of Japan by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and the Leader of the Opposition to be permitted to make a response to the Prime Minister’s statement for no more than 15 minutes immediately after the Prime Minister’s statement.
Mr Speaker, we’re suspending standing orders today because we want Prime Minister Albanese to do what’s right, to do what is decent, to do what’s in the national interest, to do what’s necessary to make amends to a great female leader, of a great democracy, and a great friend of Australia. Speaker, Australians respect a Prime Minister who is firm, a Prime Minister who is resolved.
But I tell you what Australians also respect. They respect a Prime Minister who can acknowledge their mistakes. A prime minister who, despite error, has the grace, has the humility, has the courage to say, “I stuffed up and I’m sorry.” Mr.
Speaker, Prime Minister Albanese has stuffed up. His comments on the podcast were ill-considered. They were crass.
They were unstatesmanlike. His comments weren’t befitting the office he holds, an office which represents Australia and Australians. His comments were offensive, disrespectful, and sexist, not only to the Japanese Prime Minister, but to many women.
Indeed, the podcast discussion was utterly distasteful. In content. In innuendo.
In gestures. And not only in relation to the Japanese Prime Minister. But also, in relation to Kylie Minogue.
Speaker, this is not a matter of interpretation or misinterpretation – as some defending the Prime Minister like to say. Indeed, some of the Prime Minister’s staunchest defenders are his female colleagues who, at every opportunity, accuse those on our side of politics of sexism and misogyny. And yet, when their own leader is sexist, when their own leader is sexist, they defend the indefensible.
What hypocrisy. What hypocrisy, Mr. Speaker.
On any objective analysis, the Prime Minister’s comments were wrong. Even if they were a gaffe. And there are serious consequences from the unserious podcast that the Prime Minister hosted at The Lodge.
The Prime Minister has insulted a leader. And not just any leader. The Prime Minister of Japan.
The prime minister of a key Australian trading partner and key Australian ally in our region. Japan buys LNG from Australia. Australia is buying frigates from Japan.
The bilateral relationship between our two democracies is deep, abiding, and necessary. Especially in a region where we’re seeing more military adventurism, aggression, and coercion from the Chinese Communist Party. Of course, the Japanese Prime Minister is a stoic woman.
She’s not called the “Iron Lady” for nothing. And any Australian who knows the Japanese people know they’re incredibly polite and decent people. Where offense has been given, the Japanese are resilient, restrained, and diplomatic.
And that is clear in the Japanese Government’s cable of 13 July to the Australian Government in response to Prime Minister Albanese’s podcast. But how do we know about the contents of this cable? It has been leaked to the press.
Back in July 2022, soon after he came to office, this Prime Minister said, and I quote: “One of the things I will do – and a part of keeping faith – is keeping private conversations private.” Speaker, the Prime Minister must come clean. Has his office, or his department, or someone in the Labor Government, leaked the Japanese Government’s cable to downplay a serious diplomatic disaster?
As the Prime Minister knows, the disclosure of classified communications can be a criminal offence. And that’s why I’ve had the Shadow Minister for Defence and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs refer this matter to the Australian Federal Police. Confidential communication should remain confidential.
That’s in the national interest. That’s in the interest of our allies and partners. Speaker, let me return to the key point.
The Prime Minister has stuffed up. He had earlier posted on social media, and I quote: “No matter who you support in politics, it is completely unacceptable to demean, objectify, belittle or offend women.” If this is the standard the Prime Minister sets for others, it’s the standard he should also hold himself to. I call on the Prime Minister to pick up the phone and apologise to the Japanese Prime Minister.
I call on the Prime Minister to be in this place at 1:30 pm and make a public apology. These actions would go a long way. They would show this Prime Minister – who is known for his hubris – can be capable of humility.
They would show he can be a leader of decency. They would show he can be a man of maturity.