Gas is good, like it or not: WA Labor leader
The Labor leader on Thursday hit back at critics of Australia's gas industry, arguing that while championing LNG exports doesn't 'look good on a bumper sticker', it was critical to broader decarbonisation efforts.
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Sky News AU
7 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Not going to tolerate' antisemitism: Bill Shorten outlines university's plan to combat ‘hate' following envoy report
University of Canberra's Vice-Chancellor and former Labor leader Bill Shorten has outlined the universities' plan to combat antisemitism on camps, saying 'we're not going to tolerate people being treated badly' due to their Jewish heritage. Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal handed down a major report on Thursday, just one year after the business executive was appointed to the role. Ms Segal ordered university chancellors and vice-chancellors to cooperate with her plan to stamp out antisemitism on campuses, or risk funding cuts. Following the recommendations announcement, Mr Shorten said he thought it was important to promptly take a stance on the matter, as 'Antisemitism is real'. 'It's not a creation of the right wing or Israel lobbyists, antisemitism is real. It's a centuries-old hate, and we thought it was all in the history books but now it's come out of the drains,' Mr Shorten told Sky News on Friday. In light of incidents such the alleged arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue last week, Mr Shorten said antisemitism needs to 'be called out' 'And Jewish Australians have got to know... we're not going to tolerate people being treated badly because they're Jewish,' he said. Pressed as to whether the University of Canberra will be implementing the special envoy's recommendations, the vice-chancellor said it will work with other universities and will ensure the safety of students with Jewish heritage on campus. 'I do not want people coming from outside the campus causing grief, and Australians of Jewish heritage have got to feel that when they come to the University of Canberra, this is a place where they can study, learn, be treated with respect,' Mr Shorten said. '... UC wants students of all faith, including kids of Jewish heritage.' Ms Segal's report outlines a series of measures needed in order to combat antisemitism, which it claimed had 'reached a tipping point that threatens social harmony, undermines trust in institutions and marginalises Jewish Australian citizens'. Ms Segal told Sky News host Sharri Markson on Thursday that she planned to delegate work for 'different parties', especially the federal and state government, and educational and cultural institutions. 'There's support I will need from the federal government, but also from state governments, also from leaders in society, leaders of cultural institutions, chancellors and vice-chancellors at universities,' Ms Segal said. 'I will be putting them to the task of supporting me when I need federal government support, but equally I'll be looking to state governments to support educational initiatives. 'I'll looking to universities to continue what has been very cooperative stance from them in moving towards initiatives to combat antisemitism on campuses.'
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- The Advertiser
PM to walk diplomatic tightrope in crucial China visit
The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia. The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia. The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia. The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia.
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Perth Now
PM to walk diplomatic tightrope in crucial China visit
The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia.
