“It’s not the crime, it’s the cover up.” This maxim of politics traces its origins to the Watergate scandal of the 1970s in the United States. And it remains true today.
If you are in politics or government, and you mess up, it’s usually best to own the error and cop it on the chin. Rather than treating the public like mugs by claiming that up is down or that black is white.
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese doesn’t seem to know the saying.
A few weeks back Anthony Albanese went on a podcast and thought it would be funny to mock, in crude and boorish terms, a pair of crown melons.
They were an official gift from Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, who was visiting Australia.
It was a bad attempt at a joke. It was sexist. It was personally offensive. Who insults someone who brings them a gift? But more serious than this, it was a major diplomatic blunder.
As a former ambassador and diplomat, I’ve seen my share of diplomatic gaffes. And had to clean up more than a few.
But this one is of nuclear proportions.
Crown melons are highly valued in Japanese culture.
Prime Minister Takaichi’s decision to gift them was highly symbolic.
It demonstrated the importance she places on Japan’s relationship with Australia.
So for Albanese to mock the gift as he did demonstrated, in diplomatic terms, just how unimportant the relationship is to him.
Japan is one of Australia’s longest standing and most important trade and security partners. Over decades, Japanese investment in Australia underwrote the development of our world-class resources sector.
Japanese investment is now helping develop our critical minerals and rare earths sector. Japan has been one of the best customers for our iron ore, coal and LNG. This has added billions and billions of dollars to to Australia’s exports, and delivered rivers of government revenue that have funded essential services in Australia.
Japan remains our second largest export market to this day.
Beyond its importance as a commercial partner, Japan is also a growing security partner for Australia. Japan is a founding member of the Quad, along with Australia, India and the United States, a vital stabilising network for the Indo-Pacific.
We conduct joint military exercises together.
And the Royal Australian Navy is relying on Japan to build our future navy frigates.
So there is a lot at stake.
Anthony Albanese’s gaffe — and his refusal to apologise — puts this entire relationship under stress.
When Anthony Albanese tried to pretend he did not describe Grace Tame as ‘difficult’, it made him look small.
But his stubborn refusal to own his mistake this time around diminishes our entire nation.
Albanese and his ministers are now engaged in the cynical cover up.
To see senior female Labor Cabinet Ministers defend the boorish conduct of their boss, and his Sir Les Paterson impersonation, is a case-study in hypocrisy.
Tanya Plibersek has claimed it is all a misunderstanding.
Katy Gallagher has accused the media of misreporting.
Penny Wong gamely tried to blame the opposition for making it an issue.
Rather than insult the intelligence of the Australian public with these implausible denials, they should just tell their boss, Anthony Albanese, to apologise.