Australian government officials were first warned a year and a half ago about alleged attempts to recruit former defence force personnel to train the Chinese military, the defence department has revealed. But it is unclear what action, if any, the then defence minister, Peter Dutton, took at the time. The current defence minister, Richard Marles, appeared to have been spurred into action when the issue hit the media about two months ago. Marles announced in mid-October he had asked his department to investigate claims that some Australian pilots may be…
Tag: Australian foreign policy
Australia’s credibility on human rights blighted by laws targeting climate protesters and jailing children, report says
The detention of children under 14 and new laws targeting climate protesters are harming Australia’s credibility to stand up for human rights in the region, a leading rights body has warned. Human Rights Watch called on Australia to address its own “alarming deficiencies” when the organisation on Thursday published its annual reports on the performance of nearly 100 countries. It specifically raised alarm about New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania introducing “new laws targeting peaceful climate and environmental protesters with disproportionate punishments and excessive bail conditions”. The organisation took aim…
Australia news live: ‘couldn’t think of anything more distressing for victim-survivors’ – Daniel Andrews rules out George Pell state funeral
From 44m ago No state funeral service for George Pell: Victorian premier Benita Kolovos Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, says there will not be a state funeral service for George Pell out of respect for victims of institutional child sexual abuse. Asked if Pell, who died on Wednesday morning AEDT from heart complications arising from hip replacement surgery in Rome, would receive a state-funded service, he replied that he would not: I couldn’t think of anything that would be more distressing for victim-survivors than that. <gu-island name="TweetBlockComponent" deferuntil="visible" props="{"element":{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement","html":" Victoria's premier,…
Anthony Albanese to push ‘family-first’ security treaty in address to Papua New Guinea parliament
Anthony Albanese will seek progress on a new security treaty during a visit to Papua New Guinea, pushing a “family-first approach” amid increasing competition with China for influence in the Pacific. On Thursday the Australian prime minister will become the first foreign government leader to address PNG’s parliament and will say he sees the relationship as “a bond between equals”. Albanese will also declare that other Pacific countries are counting on Australia and PNG to lead on climate action, warning there is “not a moment to waste”. With sport seen…
Australia news live: Chinese envoy warns against allowing differences to ‘hijack’ ties, severe storms for Queensland
From 51m ago Chinese envoy warns against allowing differences to ‘hijack’ ties Daniel Hurst China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has warned against allowing differences between the two countries to “hijack” the overall relationship. Addressing the media at the Chinese embassy in Canberra, he said 2022 had been an “extraordinary” year for the relationship between China and Australia. The change of government had provided an opportunity for a reset, he said. Xiao said both sides considered the relationship to be a comprehensive strategic partnership. Differences and disputes remained, he said,…
Labor flags wastewater tests on inbound planes as mandatory Covid checks for China arrivals resumes
Australia is planning to introduce wastewater testing for incoming flights in an attempt to gather more information about the possible entry of new Covid variants. The health minister, Mark Butler, announced the measure on Monday in a round of interviews defending the decision to reimpose pre-flight Covid testing for passengers from China as necessary because of a “absence of comprehensive information” about the disease in China. The announcement on Sunday has already prompted calls to expand pre-flight testing, with the independent MP Monique Ryan questioning if it was now “time…
Mark Dreyfus approves extradition of former US marine over charges of training Chinese pilots
The federal government has approved a request to extradite former US marine corps aviator Daniel Duggan to the US, where he faces charges of training Chinese military pilots. An unsealed indictment, filed in a Washington district court earlier this month, alleges that Duggan broke American arms control laws by teaching fighter pilots to land on aircraft carriers. The naturalised Australian is also accused of having provided military training to Chinese pilots through a test flying academy in South Africa between 2010 and 2012. Duggan was arrested by Australian federal police…
Australia and China team up to protest WTO blockages caused by US vetoes on appeal body
Australia has teamed up with China and more than 100 countries to protest longstanding blockages at the World Trade Organization as the United States vetoes appeal judge appointments. Australia and China remain at odds over specific trade disputes between them – such as Beijing’s tariffs on Australian wine and barley – but are united in concern about the years-long disruption to a key appeal body. Australia is pushing for a “fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system” so alleged breaches of trade rules can be “effectively addressed by all members, regardless…
Australia’s lobster industry hopeful China will drop trade sanctions
Australia’s lobster industry is cautiously optimistic that China could soon remove trade restrictions, but exporters are wary of being “burned again” by sanctions and volatile diplomatic relations. Many businesses have been paying close attention to foreign affairs minister Penny Wong’s trip to China this week – the first by an Australian minister in three years – where she discussed “trade blockages” with her counterparts. At the height of a diplomatic rift in 2020, Beijing imposed a range of tariffs, bans and restrictions on Australian exports including wine, barley and lobsters,…
Australia news live: Penny Wong flies home after China talks; Liberal brand ‘not fit for purpose’
<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"63a336f98f085ce9739c315a","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" The Liberal party brand is no longer “fit for purpose” and has lost its volunteer base on the ground, according to an internal review seen by the Australian. The report says membership numbers have dwindled amid factional battles and it is also expected to conclude that the unpopularity of former prime minister Scott Morrison was a key factor in May election defeat. ","elementId":"d8304b16-2cd3-4a73-9401-c7769f9baf03"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" The Australian reports: ","elementId":"aa27c65f-ac5f-4092-80f8-3d6132b791d8"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement","html":" \n A key recommendation, which the report says was fundamental to the party being competitive at the next election,…