Penny Wong has suggested that Australia wants to resume funding to the United Nations agency delivering aid to Gaza as soon as possible, maintaining that while recent allegations about staff were gravely serious, there are no alternatives. Australia, alongside the United States, the United Kingdom and a number of otherContinue Reading
Australia “ignored warnings” about the involvement of United Nations aid workers in Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel and should not restore funding until concerns are alleviated, the Coalition says. On the weekend, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed Australia would join the US, the UK and others in pausingContinue Reading
An Australian senator has issued Scott Morrison a blunt goodbye after the former prime minister announced his exit from parliament. Mr Morrison called time on his political career on Wednesday, ending two years of speculation. While his former Labor and Coalition colleagues issued tributes upon hearing the news, Greens senatorContinue Reading
Both sides of Australian politics have renewed their pleas for Beijing to consider releasing Australian writer Dr Yang Hengjun, who was detained in China five years ago. Days after China’s top diplomat in Australia called for “patience” on the ongoing saga, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government would “continueContinue Reading
The Albanese government needs to swiftly rule out joint military exercises with China, the Coalition says, after Beijing’s top diplomat used a rare media appearance to voice his hopes for the future of the bilateral relationship. The Coalition has also chastised Beijing for its suggestion that Japan was to blameContinue Reading
Anthony Albanese’s government is under mounting pressure to list the Houthis as a terrorist organisation after the United States relisted the group amid continuing attacks in the Red Sea. The Biden administration confirmed on Thursday Australian time it would return the Yemen-based rebels to the list of recognised terrorist groups,Continue Reading
The Prime Minister has denied his government is dragging its feet on sending more military personnel to assist with escalating tensions in the Red Sea, after a US cargo ship in the region was struck by Yemen-based Houthi rebels. In December, Australia rejected a US Navy request for support inContinue Reading
When I first travelled to Israel it was with a sense of excitement to explore a land so rich in the history of humanity. This week I have returned, with unease. Conflict, war and tragedy have never been far away for this nation established out of the horrors of theContinue Reading
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has issued a warning to a senior Beijing official after a Chinese warship used sonar pulses to target Australian divers. Senator Wong met with Chinese Minister Liu Jianchao in Canberra on Wednesday, just over a week after a Chinese vessel used active sonar to targetContinue Reading
Beijing has cautioned Canberra against making “reckless and impossible accusations against China”, and rejected accusations a Chinese warship injured Australian navy divers. Over the weekend, Australia accused China of “unsafe and unprofessional” conduct at sea when divers from the HMAS Toowoomba were injured by sonar pulses emitted from a ChineseContinue Reading