Australia news live: RBA holds cash rate at 4.35%; PM defends Japan relationship after Coalition question over ‘classless’ melon comment

Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTed O’Brien says that just because the Japanese government has downplayed melon-gate, doesn’t mean Anthony Albanese’s gaffe isn’t a “national embarrassment”.We’ve seen reports Japan sent a memo to the government last month suggesting they did not believe the prime minister’s comments about the pair of crown melons he received as a gift were made with “ill intention”.This is one of our most important partnerships. This is a national embarrassment. Now, we can say, ‘yes, but, you know, some people think it isn’t.’ Well, here we are on national radio talking about it. The Australian prime minister has been inappropriate …I’m the shadow minister for foreign affairs. I don’t have the authority to apologise on beh