<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"63a0cbd68f0834f3c057ca06","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" The premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, is speaking to ABC Radio about the flooding his state is seeing. ","elementId":"d6f43983-0fca-4993-a39d-ec6fcc101898"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" Malinauskas says the peak flow is approaching the state border, with the town of Renmark expecting its peak on Boxing Day. The premier says significant preparations have been under way for “an event they’ve known is coming their way for six to eight weeks”. ","elementId":"2028c5e1-e2c1-415f-bed9-5cff02587169"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" He says the current prediction of 1,000 homes inundated is likely to increase closer to 4,000 homes over the days ahead.…
Tag: Australian politics
Australia seeks direct resolution of trade dispute with China ahead of WTO ruling
The international trade umpire is set to rule within months on Australia’s complaints against China’s trade sanctions, setting up a deadline for the diplomatic thaw to produce a breakthrough. As Australia and China prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations on Wednesday, the trade minister, Don Farrell, said he was prepared to meet the Chinese commerce minister at any time and place to seek a resolution. “I’ve made it clear that if and when they want to meet, we’re very happy to do so,” he told Guardian Australia.…
How does Australia fix a problem like China? By showing maximum restraint | Nick Coyle
During my time as CEO of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce in Beijing from 2013 until July this year, I had a ringside seat to the rapid rise and subsequent deterioration in bilateral relations between China and Australia. The reasons for the deterioration were complex, with fault on both sides, and we must learn from them or risk history repeating. From 2013 to 2015, barely a week went by without a senior federal minister, premier, chief minister or CEO coming through Beijing or another major city to engage with local…
Penny Wong to travel to China this week for 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations
Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will fly to China this week to mark a key diplomatic milestone in the latest sign of easing tensions between the two countries. Wong is due to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday and will attend Wednesday’s events marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and China. Her forthcoming travel was announced on Monday, days after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, predicted “further measures and activities which indicate a much improved relationship” over the “coming weeks”. The trip would build…
Australia news live: body found in search for missing teen; 26 January citizenship ceremonies no longer mandated for local councils
From 2h ago Immigration minister scraps rule forcing local councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day Local councils will no longer be forced to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, after Labor has reversed a Morrison government ruling. SBS’s Finn McHugh reports: Rules introduced in 2019 under then-prime minister Scott Morrison forced local governments to hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January or be stripped of their right to conduct them. Mr Morrison at the time said compelling local councils to do so would stop them from “playing politics with…
Out of deep freeze: just how real is the thaw in Australia’s relationship with China?
Hundreds of people are gathered on the back lawns of the Chinese embassy in Canberra. Chinese and Australian flags surround a podium set up for speeches marking the imminent 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. But towards the back of the garden, where members of the Canberra diplomatic corps, businesspeople, academics and journalists are milling about, stands a striking image. A large oil painting depicts a 1973 meeting between Gough Whitlam and Mao Zedong in Beijing. Whitlam was the Australian leader who opened diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China…
Energy makes the headlines, but reset on diplomacy is Albanese’s real power play
For weeks, all eyes have been on soaring energy prices, and what the governments of Australia will do to give households and businesses relief. Governments answered part of the national water cooler question on Friday, agreeing to new price caps for coal and gas, and to rebates for people on low and middle incomes. The impact of the proposed price caps seems clear. Power bills will increase, but they will be lower than they otherwise would be in the absence of government intervention. Consumer rebates are still a bit of…
US to increase rotation of forces to Australia, condemns China’s ‘dangerous and coercive actions’ in region
The US will increase rotations of its air, land and sea forces to Australia and has condemned China’s “dangerous and coercive actions” across the Indo-Pacific region. As part of the step-up in defence ties, the US plans to preposition munitions and fuel in Australia to support its military forces. Airfields in northern Australia are set to be upgraded to enable rotations of US aircraft. The defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, also said the US would not allow Australia to experience a capability gap in its naval forces and pledged to help…
Partner of detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei hopeful of ‘compassionate and speedy resolution’
The Australian journalist detained in China, Cheng Lei, is trying to remain positive despite her “very difficult situation” and is grateful for messages of encouragement from supporters, her partner has said. Cheng’s partner, Nick Coyle, said it was positive that the Australian prime minister, the foreign minister and the deputy prime minister had all raised her case in recent talks with their Chinese counterparts. “We hope that this positive dialogue can lead towards a compassionate and speedy resolution to the current situation,” he told Guardian Australia. Asked whether he was…
Uyghurs urge Albanese government not to ignore human rights amid diplomatic thaw with China
Uyghur community members are urging the Albanese government not to sideline human rights in Australia’s diplomatic reset with China – and are disappointed to have failed to secure a meeting with the foreign minister, Penny Wong. The Germany-based president of the World Uyghur Congress, Dolkun Isa, is among a delegation that has visited Canberra this week for meetings with about 30 politicians from all sides of politics, including the opposition leader, Peter Dutton. The delegation has urged Australia to join the US and several European countries in declaring that genocide…