Pacific investment counters China: expert Foreign Minister Penny Wong has visited Palau as part of a bipartisan Pacific tour in a bid to deepen Australia's ties with the region's nations. AAP · Dec 15, 2022
Afternoon Update: Australia to impose coal and gas price limits; NSW blocks Byron Bay short-term housing cap; and UK airports ease liquids rule Labor’s energy bill passes parliament including price caps The Guardian - AU · Dec 15, 2022
Coalition should have heeded calls from Pacific to raise climate targets, Simon Birmingham says Liberal senator says Australia’s approach to emissions debate had not been ‘ideal’ for Pacific relations The Guardian - AU · Dec 15, 2022
China relationship vital for Pacific: PM Re-establishing dialogue with China is important for peace and stability, the prime minister has said after an Australian delegation wrapped its Pacific tour. AAP · Dec 15, 2022
Australian politicians arrive in Palau, one of the few Pacific nations to diplomatically favour Taiwan over China The tiny nation of Palau, which continues to defy pressure from Beijing to drop diplomatic ties with Taiwan, has welcomed a bi-partisan delegation from Australia as concerns grow over China's rising presence in the Pacific. ABC News · Dec 14, 2022
Russian Medibank hackers could be first targets of Australian sanctions against cyber-attackers Dfat confirms it has provided advice to minister Penny Wong about using cyber-related powers introduced last year The Guardian - AU · Dec 14, 2022
Australia vies with China for Pacific influence, signs new security deal Australia has signed a new security deal with island nation Vanuatu as part of an ongoing competition with China for influence in the Pacific. WEKU · Dec 14, 2022
Australia vies for Pacific influence with new security deal Australia has signed a new security deal with Oceania island country Vanuatu as part of an ongoing competition with China for influence in the Pacific The Independent UK · Dec 14, 2022
Afternoon Update: Details emerge of shocking Queensland police ambush; Violet Coco granted bail; and Ardern’s hot mic Tributes flow from state and federal leaders after two police officers and a civilian die in shooting The Guardian - AU · Dec 13, 2022
Penny Wong says Vanuatu security deal will be made public unlike China-Solomons agreement Foreign minister ‘deeply proud’ to announce bilateral pact after ‘40 years of cooperation between our security forces’ The Guardian - AU · Dec 13, 2022
Fiji election 2022: what’s happening, why does it matter and will the vote be peaceful? Fiji goes to the polls in the midst of a strict media blackout that bars any promotion of political candidates or parties The Guardian - AU · Dec 13, 2022
Closer security ties flagged with Vanuatu as Australia wrestles with China's Pacific rise Australia has cemented closer security ties with Vanuatu as the strategically located Pacific nation assures a visiting bi-partisan delegation led by Foreign Minister Penny Wong that it isn't discussing a similar deal with China. ABC News · Dec 12, 2022
Wong urges elevation of Pacific voices A bipartisan group of MPs has landed in Vanuatu as part of a visit to Pacific island nations to discuss climate policy and regional security. AAP · Dec 12, 2022
Iran accuses Australia of promoting violence and hatred for sanctions over human rights violations, supplying Russia drones for Ukraine war Iran lashes out at Australia after Penny Wong imposed sanctions for "egregious human rights violations and abuses" over the crackdown against anti-government protesters and the supply of drones to Russia for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. ABC News · Dec 12, 2022
The Guardian - AU · Dec 11, 2022 Coalition must listen ‘carefully to Pacific island nations’, Simon Birmingham says before bipartisan tour Statement comes despite torrid debates during election campaign over policies towards China and its security deal with Solomon Islands
The Conversation · Dec 11, 2022 Australia announces 'Magnitsky' sanctions against targets in Russia and Iran. What are they and will they work? Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong chose Human Rights Day to announce Magnitsky-style sanctions against 13 Russian and Iranian individuals and two entities, in response to egregious human rights abuses.
Reuters · Dec 11, 2022 Australia's Wong to visit Pacific in bipartisan effort to boost ties Australia's foreign minister will be part of a bipartisan group of Australian politicians set to travel to Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau this week in a bid to bolster regional ties.
AAP · Dec 11, 2022 Bipartisan group to visit Pacific nations A bipartisan delegation of federal MPs will visit Pacific island nations this week, the first time such a trip has taken place since COVID-19.
The Guardian - AU · Dec 10, 2022 Out of deep freeze: just how real is the thaw in Australia’s relationship with China? Recent meetings have eased tensions, but ongoing differences mean there’s still a long way to put relationship on solid footing
Asharq Al-Awsat · Dec 10, 2022 Australia Imposes Sanctions on Iran, Russia over Protests Crackdown Australia's foreign minister said on Saturday the government would place targeted sanctions on Russia and Iran in response to what it called "egregious" human rights violations. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement Australia was imposing sanctions on 13 individuals and two entities, including Iran’s Morality Police and Basij…
France 24 · Dec 10, 2022 Odesa is without electricity after strikes by Russian 'kamikaze drones' The United States has expressed alarm over a "full-scale defence partnership" between Russia and Iran involving equipment such as helicopters, fighter jets and drones putting Ukraine and other countries at risk. The city of Odesa is suffering its worst power outages after Russian "kamikaze drone" strikes on Saturday. Meanwhile, the…
The Guardian - AU · Dec 10, 2022 Australia imposes sanctions on Iran’s morality police and 13 Russians and Iranians Penny Wong announces Magnitsky-style sanctions to punish Iran’s violent crackdown on protesters and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
ABC News · Dec 10, 2022 Australia announces sanctions targeting Iran's morality police and Russian intelligence operatives Iran's morality police and Russians involved in the attempted assassination of former opposition leader Alexei Navalny face new sanctions imposed by the Australian government.
Reuters · Dec 9, 2022 Australia imposes sanctions on Iran, Russia over human rights violations Australia's foreign minister said on Saturday the government would place targeted sanctions on Russia and Iran in response to what it called "egregious" human rights violations.
AAP · Dec 9, 2022 Australia imposes sanctions on Iran The federal government is taking action against Iran's Morality Police and others after the death in custody in September of Mahsa Amini sparked mass protests.