Artists serenade Albanese as he meets with Chinese President
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West Australian
6 minutes ago
- West Australian
Sussan Ley says Anthony Albanese needs to do more to call out Chinese navy for circumnavigating Australia
Sussan Ley says Anthony Albanese should have done more to call out the Chinese navy for its circumnavigation of Australia, saying she was 'disappointed' China's President Xi Jinping did not give his assurance that it would not happen again. Ms Ley said Australia wanted a 'respectful relationship' with China, but said the Prime Mininster needed to 'hold his ground'. 'We wish the Prime Minister well on his visit to China, and of course we want to see more trade and tourism,' she told Today on Thursday. 'I am disappointed that there wasn't an assurance that we wouldn't have a repeat of circumnavigation of our coastline, live firing, civilian aircraft having to be diverted out of that airspace. 'It's not good enough. We want a strong, respectful relationship, but that respect has to cut both ways. 'It's important to demand that accountability, it is important in those government-to-government conversations that the Prime Minister holds his ground.' Mr Albanese raised the February circumnavigation and live-firing exercise with President Xi during his trip to China this week. 'I said what I said at the time, which was that it was within international law … but that we were concerned about the notice and the way that it happened, including the live-fire exercises,' Mr Albanese said. 'In response, of course, President Xi said that China engaged in exercises just as Australia engages in exercises.' Defence Minister Richard Marles on Thursday repeated it was crucial China acted in accordance with international law. 'It is much more the case that the Royal Australian Navy is in the vicinity of China than the Chinese Navy is in the vicinity of Australia,' he told the ABC. 'We're not trying to establish some standard in the vicinity of Australia which would impede our work with the Royal Australian Navy in the vicinity of China, which is actually much more the case. 'We're not there gratuitously; we're there because that's where our sea lines of communication are. 'That's where we need to be asserting rules based order and freedom of navigation. 'It is really important that the Royal Australian Navy is able to continue its work there, so what we seek is that China . . . acts in accordance with international law.' But Mr Ley took aim at Mr Marles, saying it was not his job to make excuses for China. 'Richard Marles' job is not to make excuses for the Chinese Communist Party, but to actually hold them to account,' she said. Opposition spokesman James Paterson echoed Ms Ley, saying it was 'troubling' to see President Xi had played down Australia's concerns about his flotilla's journey. 'I'm pleased the Prime Minister raised it, but it is troubling to see that President Xi was dismissive about this, and that the People's Liberation Army Navy can be expected to conduct more live-firing exercises like this in the future in our region without notice, just like it does around the Philippines Vietnam ... or Taiwan,' he told told Sky News. 'We've seen really significant escalation of military exercises around Taiwan in a way that should be troubling to all Australians because what we believe in is the preservation of the peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait. 'It is critically important that the Prime Minister, I hope, has used the opportunity of meeting with China's leaders during this visit to reaffirm that with absolute clarity and unambiguously.' Mr Paterson also claimed Mr Albanese's trip to China, which included retracing Gough Whitlam's steps at the Great Wall, was starting to look 'a little bit indulgent'. 'I do wonder whether a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China, whether a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary as part of a six-day visit to China, when there is so much else at stake in our other international relationships around the world,' he said. 'And frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent.' Mr Albanese's trip has been centred on repairing business and trade ties after a diplomatic spat under the Morrison government triggered a series of damaging import bans on key commodities, which have since been lifted.
Sky News AU
36 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Political rebellion erupts as Albanese government attempts to sneak YouTube into social media ban after laws passed
In an extraordinary post-legislative twist, an unlikely alliance of lawmakers have warned the Albanese government against attempting to quietly ban YouTube after its social media laws were already passed. After lobbying from Chinese-owned platform, TikTok, and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, Communications Minister Anika Wells has backflipped on Labor's previous commitment to exempt YouTube from the under-16 social media ban. There have been reports that Ms Wells has already decided to add YouTube to the ban, which she has not publicly denied. The move has triggered backflash from an unlikely alliance across the political divide, including Australia's Voice senator Fatima Payman, Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. The diverse set of politicians has warned that the government appears to be pursuing post-legislative amendments, with little evidence to support any change. Ms Sharkie said the government was lumping YouTube in with interactive social platforms, like TikTok and Instagram, without proper scrutiny. 'This legislation was rushed through without the appropriate consultation and consideration,' Ms Sharkie told 'Now YouTube is being brought into the mix to be treated like any other platform under the legislation. But I don't think that's the right move. 'YouTube should not be included in the ban because it's different to other social media where people are actively interacting. (It's) used for information, education and instructional purposes.' Senator Payman also took aim at the government's handling of the policy, accusing it of relying on 'band aid' fixes and a chaotic rollout. 'I have been against this ban from the beginning, and the government's approach has been all over the shop,' Ms Payman said to 'This social media ban is fundamentally flawed. For instance, you don't necessarily need an account on YouTube to access most of the content. 'The government has previously acknowledged that YouTube is an educational resource, so we need to tread carefully and a blanket ban is not appropriate.' While Ms Payman expressed concern about YouTube's advertising model targeting children, she stressed that 'banning it entirely doesn't seem appropriate'. Ms Hanson, who rarely finds common cause with Ms Payman, echoed her criticisms, warning the government not to renege on the YouTube exemption. She said the law had been passed with a clear understanding YouTube would remain accessible and that 'the case has not been made' for changing that. 'It's the thin end of the wedge, with this Labor government and bureaucrats like Julie Inman Grant looking to monitor and control everything we see and do,' Ms Hanson said. 'This is obvious government overreach putting us on the path to communism… It has started with the kids under the guise of protecting them from bullies. 'It will end up with every Australian adult being forced to identify themselves whenever they want to do a simple Google search.' Ms Hanson added that YouTube remains 'an important resource for Australians, and particularly school children.' 'No matter what happens, I'm still going to let my grandchildren use YouTube. It's not the business of the government or Grant to determine what our children can see," she said. The backlash comes after the entire senate crossbench, along with Nationals Senator Matt Canavan and Liberal Senator Alex Antic, opposed the original bill in 2024. The law, set to take effect in December 2025, will ban under-16s from using social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. Platforms failing to take 'reasonable steps' to verify users' ages risk fines of up to $50 million. Lobbying by TikTok and public pressure from Ms Inman Grant has prompted Ms Wells to reconsider the status of YouTube in the ban. TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has argued that exempting YouTube would be a competitive disadvantage for them. The company has employed Labor-aligned lobby firm Anacta Strategies to advise them on their government relations strategy. Sky News has confirmed that TikTok held meetings with Ms Wells' office — though the government has refused to disclose who attended or what was discussed. Ms Inman Grant, meanwhile, has publicly supported removing YouTube's exemption, but initially declined to release the full research behind her recommendation. That report — released after freedom of information requests were made — did not support her arguments for the ban, and the evidence 'may be subject to a range of biases'. Shadow communications minister Melissa McIntosh criticised the lack of transparency and said there were still no details on how the ban would be implemented. Despite the review, several educational content creators told they had been shut out of the consultation process. YouTube creator Shannon Jones, from the globally popular children's channel Bounce Patrol, said she had contacted the minister's office but received no response. 'I reached out… but haven't heard back… Everything is just being done so fast, like it's all being considered and decided in the space of a week,' she said. The government has not confirmed when a final decision will be made on YouTube's status.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
WA news LIVE: Body on road closes Tonkin Highway
Latest posts Latest posts 9.31am Body on road closes Tonkin Highway To overnight news now and a police incident has closed parts of Tonkin Highway this morning. The highway is closed northbound near Noranda between Morley Drive and Reid Highway after a male was found dead on the road around 2.25am this morning. He had suffered serious injuries. Drivers are advised to seek an alternative route as traffic is heavy on approach. WA Police are also appealing for anyone with information or dashcam footage of the male to contact Crime Stoppers. 9.31am Across the country and around the world Here's what is making news across the country and around the world today: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in the western Chinese city of Chengdu today, after touring the Great Wall of China on Wednesday. Albanese is expected to attend a medical technology industry lunch and tour a factory from Australian hearing implant company Cochlear, as he concludes a six-day Chinese visit that has included meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. US President Donald Trump has abandoned his MAGA supporters who are still demanding answers over the Jeffrey Epstein saga, claiming they are doing the Democrats' bidding and saying he no longer wants their support. It comes after the FBI and Attorney-General Pam Bondi found no evidence that Epstein was murdered or kept a client list earlier this month, which has failed to quell belief that the Trump administration is part of a conspiracy to cover up Epstein's affairs. Australian and British scientists have revealed the births of eight babies using a cutting-edge and controversial three-person IVF technique. 9.31am Today's weather 9.31am This morning in Perth Good morning and welcome to our live news blog for Thursday, July 17. Making headlines today, median house prices across Perth will likely grow by an average of 10 per cent between January and December, new data has revealed, while unit prices will spike 15 per cent over the same period. The Real Estate Institute WA's 2025 property market quarterly update revealed that under current market conditions, people would continue to favour units, priced out of buying a home. Meanwhile, rescued backpacker Carolina Wilga was released from Fiona Stanley Hospital yesterday, six days on from spending 11 days lost in the WA outback. No word yet where she has gone, but it's understood she is planning to fly back to Germany in the coming days to see family. And Perth needs good neighbours, but is a beer a bridge too far these days? Columnist Brendan Foster explores whether the brouhaha occurring on his street is more than the norm, or just a natural outcome of our increasing density.
