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 live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Ted 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…