From 26m ago Paul Karp Dutton says opposition ‘won’t be departing’ from net zero In recent days some in the Nationals have agitated to abandon the commitment to net zero, through a motion to be debated at Nationals conference and comments from frontbencher Barnaby Joyce that the estimated cost of net zero was “utterly untenable”. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has just rejected that push, telling Radio National the Coalition “won’t be departing” from net zero. He said: No [it doesn’t concern me], there’s strong support for net zero. It’s…
Tag: Australian security and counter-terrorism
Australia news live: Chalmers meets with China on trade sanctions; UK PM hopes Commonwealth Games stay in Australia
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‘My son is innocent’: mother of imprisoned Australian businessman denies he’s a Chinese spy
An Australian businessman facing a foreign interference charge brought home a “shopping list” given to him by two Chinese intelligence officials as evidence of China’s overt and ultimately unsuccessful efforts to cultivate him as a source, his lawyers say. The list, which Alexander Csergo slipped between the pages of a magazine to spirit out of China, requests information about whether Australia’s new Aukus alliance is “preparing for [a] Taiwan war”, about competition between the US and China in the Pacific, and about the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Titled “shopping list…
Australia news live: Philip Lowe reportedly to be replaced as RBA governor; Wong meets top Chinese diplomat
<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"64b067568f08df2847003b8c","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" The Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe will reportedly be replaced when his seven-year contract concludes in mid-September, according to the ABC. ","elementId":"449618a1-4dac-41f8-89a6-8ee101ef6d71"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" An announcement from treasurer Jim Chalmers is expected to follow today’s cabinet meeting, when the topic of Lowe’s replacement will be discussed. ","elementId":"50b6d4b9-5044-401e-970b-55fcaa10010f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" Guardian Australia has not yet been able to confirm this. We will bring you updates as they come. ","elementId":"1b8f1abd-e9b3-4fa3-a690-4bf8f7709bdb"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" In the meantime, here is more on what the future may look like for the Australian economy, the RBA and Lowe, from…
Australia news live: Penny Wong ‘deeply disappointed’ by Hong Kong arrest warrants; borrowers await rates decision
<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"64a2c5cc8f08d64edbf1ab42","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says the Australian government is “deeply disappointed” by moves from Hong Kong authorities to issue arrest warrants for democracy advocates in exile, including two in Australia. ","elementId":"7005b465-0ea3-446e-850b-f300c416c65e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" Hong Kong police yesterday said they had issued arrest warrants for eight overseas activists, accusing them of contravening the city’s national security law and offering a reward of HK$1m ($A191,726) per person, as my colleague Amy Hawkins reported here. ","elementId":"c2ba6a1e-cdd1-4fda-8c6c-e347af61fa33"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" This list includes Australian citizen Kevin Yam, a former Hong Kong lawyer and…
Richard Marles meets Gen Li Shangfu, as Chinese defence minister refuses formal meeting with US counterpart
Australian defence minister Richard Marles has met his Chinese counterpart and called for “safe and professional interactions” between military planes and ships in the Indo-Pacific region. Marles is also believed to have raised concerns about the ongoing detention of Australian citizens and human rights issues during talks with China’s defence minister, Gen Li Shangfu, at a regional security summit in Singapore. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue late on Saturday, was notable in large part because Li Shangfu had refused to have a formal meeting with…
Australia’s diplomatic network has ‘serious gaps’ and needs boost, review warns
Some parts of Australia’s overseas diplomatic network are “stretched to the point of ineffectiveness” and need a staffing boost, a review has warned the government. The review, overseen in part by the influential foreign policy expert Allan Gyngell who died last week, has identified “serious gaps” in Australia’s foreign service. It calls for reforms over the next 10 years to ensure the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can “make Australia’s case and seek to avert shocks or conflict”. This should include boosting numbers at some diplomatic posts where currently…
Australia’s plan to confront the changing face of warfare – podcast
The defence strategic review has found that the Australian defence force is ‘not fully fit for purpose’ and recommended projecting military power further from its shores. Foreign affairs and defence correspondent Daniel Hurst talks to Jane Lee about the future of the ADF How to listen to podcasts: everything you need to know The Guardian
Australia would be ‘naive’ to think China’s new Antarctic station not for surveillance, analyst says
Australia should be concerned about the prospect of China using a new research station in Antarctica to assist surveillance operations in the southern hemisphere, according to national security experts. Satellite imagery collected by Washington-based thinktank, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), shows construction of the station on Inexpressible Island near the Ross Sea has resumed for the first time since 2018. The new station is located within New Zealand’s historic territorial claim and is close to the border of Australia’s claim, which covers 42% of the continent. It…
Australia news live: total fire bans in parts of Victoria, NSW and SA amid autumn heat blast
<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"6414e8df8f089504f3596e3a","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" Early voting centres have opened this morning across NSW ahead of the state election’s official polling day next Saturday. ","elementId":"23dbfb3a-0756-4d69-bff3-97da39f2c947"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement","html":" Early voting is open for the 2023 NSW State election. To view the eligibility criteria, and early voting centre locations and opening times visit: https://t.co/oaFDmOvgb2 pic.twitter.com/u4JiQTKlqK — NSW Electoral Commission (@NSWElectoralCom) March 17, 2023 ","url":"https://twitter.com/NSWElectoralCom/status/1636849897096765442?s=20","id":"1636849897096765442","hasMedia":false,"role":"inline","isThirdPartyTracking":false,"source":"Twitter","elementId":"e55ec751-6f7d-4691-b644-4f8a7abf1b4e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" AAP reports that NSW electoral commissioner John Schmidt expects the early voting centres will see strong demand in the run-up to the day of reckoning on 25 March. ","elementId":"f7cafb73-4c34-432f-83fc-0f79489e7254"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" The state…