/qresearch/ -  Q Research

#43 - Part 56

Australia / China Tensions - Part 4

>>23546804 Daniel Andrews defends China visit as deputy premier rebukes him for photo with dictators - Deputy Premier Ben Carroll rebuked former premier Daniel Andrews for appearing in a photo with Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, saying it was “not worth it” for business interests and “not something I would have done.” Andrews defended his attendance at Beijing’s parade as an opportunity to meet regional leaders, while stressing his condemnation of Putin’s war in Ukraine and Iran’s attacks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese distanced himself, saying no minister would have considered going. Ukrainian community leaders urged Andrews to apologise, calling his appearance an “appalling lack of judgment.”

>>23546828 Video: ‘Filling his pockets’: Resurfaced footage shows former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews praising China ahead of ‘parade of dictators’ - Newly resurfaced March 2025 footage shows Daniel Andrews praising China’s economic growth and renewable energy transition in an interview with state-run CGTN, saying Beijing did not receive the credit it deserved. Weeks later he attended Xi Jinping’s military parade, where he was photographed with Xi, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. Former Morrison government press secretary Andrew Carswell called Andrews’ presence a “colossal error of judgement” and claimed he would use the photo “to drive business… filling his pockets.” The parade displayed hypersonic missiles and ICBM launchers, while Prime Minister Albanese stressed Andrews was not representing Australia.

>>23546844 Video: Former premier of Victoria, Australia: China's renewable energy drive deserves greater global recognition - "Ahead of the 2025 China Development Forum, Daniel Andrews, former premier of Victoria, Australia, sat down with CGTN's Cui Yingjie in Beijing for an exclusive interview, sharing his insights on China's high-quality development and its role in the global green transition. As a reformer who spearheaded Victoria's shift away from fossil fuels, he said, "Formal Australia-China cooperation on decarbonizing heavy industries and advancing wind and solar technologies must be our next priority - this isn't just about our nations' futures, but the health of the planet." He praised China's new quality productive forces as a transformative model, stressing that China's progress in renewable energy deserves far greater global recognition. He also pointed out that while the United States remains obsessed with "erratic and nonsensical tariff games," Australia and China are forging a new path toward global sustainability through pragmatic collaboration." - CGTN

>>23554707 Access and influence: how ‘Statesman Dan’ is getting rich in China - Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has been praised in Chinese state accounts of business meetings for pledging to “spare no effort” in promoting ties, inviting delegations to Melbourne and calling himself an “old friend of the Chinese people.” Records show Andrews and his private business partner Marty Mei met with senior Chinese think tanks in 2024, lauding co-operation in trade, education and tourism. Since leaving politics, Andrews has established Wedgetail Partners, operating from his Mulgrave home, with a 90 per cent stake held through Glencairn Street, a company of which he is the sole director and shareholder. Labor sources say his Beijing parade appearance will strengthen his growing China-focused business.

>>23554753 ‘Deeply honoured’ Daniel Andrews spruiks Xi’s parade in People’s Daily - Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews was quoted in China’s People’s Daily as “deeply honoured” to attend Xi Jinping’s military parade, hailing China’s WWII role as having “global significance.” He defended his trip as an opportunity to meet Xi, John Key, Helen Clark and Anwar Ibrahim, while claiming his record shows opposition to Putin and Iran. Anthony Albanese distanced himself, stressing no government representative attended, while critics in business and academia called Andrews’ actions “bizarre” and opportunistic. Sinologist Geremie Barme labelled attendees “useless idiots,” contrasting with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who said Andrews’ standing in China was “good for Victoria” as he expands his China-focused consultancy.

#43 - Part 57

Australia / China Tensions - Part 5

>>23554835 China praises Daniel Andrews for defending ‘peace and justice’ but accuses Australia of ‘undermining stability - Beijing hailed former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews as an example of “defending historical memory” after he joined Xi Jinping’s parade and a medal ceremony, praising him in official media. At the same time, the PLA condemned Australia, the US, Canada and the Philippines for conducting a freedom-of-navigation exercise in the South China Sea with HMAS Brisbane, calling it a threat to “peace and stability.” Canberra stressed the patrol upheld international law. ALP president Wayne Swan criticised Andrews for defying efforts to downgrade Australian representation, while Penny Wong and Richard Marles met their Japanese counterparts in Tokyo, stressing Australia and Japan's shared “values and trust” amid growing concerns over Chinese militarism.

>>23554852 Video: Penny Wong cautions Daniel Andrews on China visit after meetings in Japan - Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews to be “mindful” of the message he sent by attending Xi Jinping’s military parade with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. She stressed Australia deliberately limited representation to embassy staff, unlike in 2015 when a Coalition government minister attended the same anniversary event. Speaking in Tokyo after 2+2 talks, Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles highlighted concerns about China’s military build-up, closer ties with Russia and North Korea, and the need to strengthen partnerships with Japan. Marles announced progress on a $10 billion deal for 11 Mogami-class frigates, with three built in Japan and the rest in Australia.

>>23554868 Chinese embassy officials observe Canberra spy case in court - A woman accused of spying for China in Canberra has pleaded not guilty to foreign interference charges after allegedly receiving $230,000 to gather intelligence on the Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Association, a group banned in China. Court documents allege she collected addresses, financial data and photos for a handler working for China’s Public Security Bureau. Prosecutors seized 2.5 terabytes of data from nine devices. The ACT Chief Magistrate extended a suppression order on her identity, citing risks of prejudice, as Chinese embassy officials quietly observed proceedings. Police said she travelled repeatedly to China and amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of luxury goods, including high-end handbags “that were too numerous to practicably count.”

>>23559317 Video: China criticises Canadian, Australian warships transiting Taiwan Strait – China’s military said it shadowed and warned the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec and Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane as they transited the Taiwan Strait, denouncing the passage as “trouble-making and provocation” that raised security risks. Australia’s Defence Department said Brisbane’s September 6–7 transit was routine and in line with international law, alongside the Canadian ship, and vowed to keep exercising freedom of navigation under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Canada said Ville de Québec was deployed under Operation Horizon to promote Indo-Pacific stability. Taiwan’s defence ministry said it monitored the passage to ensure security, while Beijing reiterated its claim that the strait forms part of its territorial waters.

>>23562541 Beijing has post-parade tantrum at Australia over ‘incomprehensible’ Japan ties - China erupted over Penny Wong and Richard Marles’ Tokyo meeting with their Japanese counterparts, denouncing Australia’s strengthened partnership with Japan as “stirring up tensions” and “provoking China.” A China Daily editorial accused Canberra of parroting US “playbook” rhetoric, citing joint statements on Taiwan and Chinese activity in Japanese waters. Beijing also condemned Australia’s role in freedom of navigation exercises with the US, Canada and the Philippines and HMAS Brisbane’s Taiwan Strait transit, calling Canberra’s stance “incomprehensible.” The paper urged Anthony Albanese to heed Paul Keating’s warning that “Taiwan is not a vital Australian interest.” Wong and Marles also met Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shortly before he announced his resignation, with Japan’s ruling LDP preparing to select his successor.

#43 - Part 58

Australia / China Tensions - Part 6

>>23562544 Beijing says no’: Solomon Islands MP reveals how China pulls the strings - Anthony Albanese has arrived in Honiara for the Pacific Islands Forum amid claims that Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has acted under Beijing’s direction. United Party leader Peter Kenilorea says Manele froze him out after “the Chinese ambassador told him not to take me” into government. He was told he must “leave [his] party and give a press conference praising Beijing” and travel to China. Another MP, Daniel Waneoroa, was reportedly summoned by the Chinese embassy and “given the conditions on what he must do,” leading him to quit the pro-Taiwan Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. Critics warn Beijing is using such tactics to sideline Taiwan and cement control.

>>23567080 Video: Albanese’s $500m Pacific security deal founders over China clause - Anthony Albanese has been forced to delay signing a $500m, 10-year treaty with Vanuatu after Prime Minister Jotham Napat resisted clauses limiting foreign funding for critical infrastructure, raising concerns it would restrict access to Chinese investment. The setback comes after Australia secured deals with Tuvalu and Nauru granting veto rights over security pacts with countries such as China. Albanese said “good progress” was made and more talks will follow, while critics questioned transparency over the funds. Analysts said the deal is not dead, though reaching consensus in Vanuatu may require compromises, as Canberra also pursues a landmark agreement with Papua New Guinea.

>>23567096 COMMENTARY: Beijing scores a win in Vanuatu, as $500m deal hangs in balance - "Australia has been left bloodied and bruised after its latest diplomatic bout with China in the Pacific… The Albanese government had hoped to seal another win against Beijing by signing a new economic and security agreement with Vanuatu… ‘Some of my ministers and my MPs … feel it requires more discussions, particularly on some of the specific wordings in the agreement when it comes to the critical infrastructure,’ Prime Minister Jotham Napat said… It’s the second time Vanuatu has gotten cold feet over a security-related agreement with Australia… Beijing has won this round. But the competition continues." - Ben Packham, The Australian

>>23567101 OPINION: China and Australia in a high-speed race to win control of the Pacific - "Constantly seeking opportunities to establish itself as the dominant power in the Pacific, Beijing decided to offer a fleet of 27 brand-new vehicles as a gift to Solomon Islands… The Australian response? To announce that it would give the Solomons a fleet of 60 brand-new vehicles… This is the new reality. It’s a daily competition, hand-to-hand diplomatic combat… There are some bidding wars that Australia cannot win… But this is a daily contest in a permanent struggle across a vast expanse of what the regional nations call the Blue Pacific Continent. China is intent on establishing military bases in the Pacific and will not rest until it succeeds. The region that Australia long thought was the least important is now accepted as the most important." - Peter Hartcher, The Age

>>23571707 Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr says ‘we’re already at war’ with China - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced negotiations on a security treaty with Fiji, even as Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr declared the Pacific was “already at war” with China. Speaking in Hawaii, Whipps warned the region was “under constant threat” and called for stronger US naval deployments. The Solomon Islands’ decision to ban all PIF partners to exclude Taiwan stirred controversy, while Beijing’s diplomats were seen monitoring delegates. Albanese, chauffeured in a Chinese-made car donated to the host, said discussions with Fiji were at an early stage but emphasised its importance in Pacific security.

>>23571713 Video: Boost for Australia as new security deal with Fiji in the works - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed Australia and Fiji are negotiating a stronger security agreement, with discussions focused on interoperability, training, and defence cooperation. The talks, revealed at the Pacific Islands Forum, follow the collapse of a $500m deal with Vanuatu over concerns it would block Chinese investment in critical infrastructure. Albanese also pledged $100m to the Pacific Resilience Facility for climate and disaster response, calling it a “promise” to the region. He described Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka as a “good friend” and signalled further announcements with Papua New Guinea next week.

#43 - Part 59

Australia / China Tensions - Part 7

>>23571721 Video: ‘Ghost Sharks’ and a historic defence treaty to China-proof our nearest neighbour - Australia and Papua New Guinea will sign a landmark defence treaty committing both nations to act together against a “common danger,” a shift likened to ANZUS and hailed by the Lowy Institute as a “flagship achievement.” The pact will allow PNG citizens to serve in the Australian Defence Force and gain a pathway to citizenship, marking a historic move away from Port Moresby’s non-aligned stance. Alongside this, Canberra announced a $1.7b contract with US firm Anduril to build Ghost Shark underwater drones in Sydney, boosting autonomous naval capability against China’s growing presence.

>>23590438 China collects fingerprints in Solomon Islands under Mao-era policing initiative - A Chinese-led “community policing” program in Solomon Islands is collecting citizens’ fingerprints and household registration data, drawing comparisons to Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution–era “Fengqiao Experience.” Chinese police, working with local officers, have piloted the scheme near Honiara, offering uniforms and equipment in exchange for personal data. Opposition figures Peter Kenilorea Jnr and Celsus Talifilu warned it was an infringement of privacy, likely illegal, and risked silencing dissent. Analysts said Beijing is exporting its surveillance model, undermining rights and overlapping with Australian policing support. The initiative emerged as Pacific Islands leaders met in Honiara, where China’s influence was a dominant theme.

>>23590481 RSIPF and CPLT launch SI-China Police Cooperation Model Community - "The National Crime Prevention Department (NCPD) of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF), together with the China Police Liaison Team (CPLT), has launched the Fighter One community for the construction of the Solomon Island (SI)-China Police Cooperation Model Communities recently. Inspector Lin Jiamu said its aim is to guide SI communities well based on the Chinese community governance experience – the ‘Fengqiao Experience’ – and to better enhance their capabilities in collecting basic community information, population management, self-protection, and resolving conflicts and disputes on their own so as to obtain a safer community environment. CPLT explained the core of community policing work, population management, trained skills such as filling out household registration cards and population information cards, drawing community maps, and collecting fingerprints and palm prints, and shared the Fengqiao experience of community policing management from China. A leader from the Fighter One community, Mr. Andrew Nihopara, acknowledged the RSIPF and CPLT for coming to their community to guide them. This is extremely important for peace and prosperity." - solomons.gov.sb

>>23590589 Anthony Albanese silent on China in the Solomons after revelations of fingerprinting citizens - Anthony Albanese has refused to raise with Beijing or Honiara revelations that Chinese police are fingerprinting Solomon Islands citizens under a Mao-era “community policing” program, saying he does not “talk about events between countries which don’t involve Australia.” Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said he was “deliberately ignoring this very concerning development,” while former defence minister Linda Reynolds branded the program “Orwellian.” Solomon Islands figures, including Celsus Talifilu, warned Beijing’s influence is growing through propaganda, fully funded trips for officials, and Chinese Embassy cash programs.

>>23590756 OPINION: China fingerprinting Solomon Islanders to ‘resolve conflicts’ is an egregious intrusion - "Extraordinarily, Beijing thought Solomon Islanders would embrace its intrusive system developed during the Cultural Revolution to keep tabs on troublemakers and dissidents… Collecting citizen’s biodata and forcing them to submit detailed household information to authorities might wash in China but it’s way out of order in a democratic country… The fact that the country’s government just let the Chinese police start collecting villagers’ fingerprints shows it is far too meek and trusting when dealing with the might of the communist state… This sorry story should be a lesson to Solomon Islands…It should also be a warning to other Pacific Island states of the dangers of getting too close to Beijing." – Ben Packham, The Australian

#43 - Part 60

Australia / China Tensions - Part 8

>>23590858 Five Labor MPs to join Premier in China with five-day trade mission - Premier Jacinta Allan will lead one of the largest Victorian Labor delegations to China, joined by parliamentary secretary Paul Hamer and backbenchers Meng Heang Tak, Mathew Hilakari, Matt Fregon and John Mullahy. The September 14–19 taxpayer-funded mission will focus on trade, education, tourism and innovation, and is viewed as a major political play to consolidate support among Chinese-Australian voters ahead of the 2026 election. Allan’s office said the mission would deliver “a new era of jobs, growth and stability” while consolidating ties with China. The trip follows Daniel Andrews’ six visits as premier, including a secretive official visit to China just months before he announced his retirement as premier.

>>23598223 Jacinta Allan set to meet China’s commerce and education minister with trade-focused mission - Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will launch a new China strategy in Beijing, seeking to emphasise trade and education while distancing herself from former premier Dan Andrews’s appearance at the 2025 China Victory Day military parade. Allan is scheduled to meet China’s commerce and education ministers on Monday before a five-day tour of Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing and Chengdu focused on services exports, tourism, medtech and clean energy. Analysts cautioned that Beijing often ties political demands to economic offers, but said Allan’s agenda is “overwhelmingly economic.” The trip includes Labor MPs from electorates with large Chinese-Australian communities.

>>23603437 ‘We won’t turn our backs on China’: Jacinta Allan doubles down backing communist superpower - Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has launched her new China strategy in Beijing, declaring “we have not turned our backs to China - we have turned to face it.” She said the plan would make Victoria “the first port of call for Chinese business to innovate and invest” and the “destination of choice” for Chinese visitors and students. The strategy highlights education, clean energy, tourism and public transport, and revives the Hamer Scholarship Program for tertiary study in China, reserving places for Victorian regional students. Allan stressed China is Victoria’s top trading partner and “an old friend with deep historic ties.”

>>23608091 Video: ‘China is relentless’: US diplomat warns Beijing could be influencing PNG treaty delay - Australia and Papua New Guinea are scrambling to finalise a landmark “Pukpuk Treaty” after PNG’s cabinet failed to reach a quorum during independence celebrations, delaying approval before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s departure. The pact would grant the ADF access to PNG facilities, allow cross-enlistment, and include a mutual defence clause similar to ANZUS. Albanese insisted the deal had “overwhelming support,” while analysts warned of political fallout if it slips. Former US official Kurt Campbell suggested China may be working to obstruct the treaty, saying “China is relentless” in contesting Pacific security initiatives.

>>23608098 COMMENTARY: PNG treaty sign-off no easy task but Anthony Albanese can’t fail again … can he? - “[T]he Pukpuk Treaty would cement PNG as an Australian ally as much as the US or New Zealand, with all the responsibilities that entails. On Tuesday morning,…Prime Minister James Marape’s cabinet had failed to endorse the agreement the previous day, as planned, after it was unable to reach a quorum. Albanese laughed off the cabinet snafu, saying PNG’s ministers were understandably in their electorates celebrating the independence day holiday. It’s true that things don’t always run smoothly in PNG, which is known for good reason as the “land of the unexpected”…[Albanese] tried to maintain an optimistic disposition as things went awry, but was unable to declare with any certainty that the treaty would be signed as planned on Wednesday…Perhaps some of [Marape’s] MPs and ministers see an irony in the nation signing a far-reaching security agreement with its former colonial master on the day after it marks 50 years as an independent state?” – Ben Packham, The Australian

#43 - Part 61

Australia / China Tensions - Part 9

>>23608107 China playing the ‘great game’ against Australia in the Pacific, Kurt Campbell says – Former US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell warned in Canberra that “the great game is afoot” in the Pacific, with Beijing “relentless” in trying to block Australia’s initiatives. He said delays in finalising a PNG defence treaty may reflect Chinese interference, noting such deals are “contested behind the scenes”. Praising Australia for stepping up as US influence fell under Donald Trump, Campbell urged Anthony Albanese to press Trump to re-engage in the Pacific, and said Albanese could also help repair Trump’s rift with India. Campbell backed AUKUS, called for higher Australian defence spending, but stressed “Australia is a sovereign, democratic nation” and should not have terms dictated by Washington.

>>23608146 Victoria’s push for Chinese students puts state on a collision course with Canberra – Premier Jacinta Allan launched Victoria’s first China strategy in a decade, declaring her top priority as “education, education and education.” Speaking in Beijing, she said she would “always say yes to international students,” despite a federal cap of 295,000 places next year. The strategy drops the targets set under Daniel Andrews and instead emphasises cultural connection, diaspora ties and regional Victoria’s role. Allan announced new university and TAFE agreements, plus the revival of $10,000 Hamer Scholarships for regional students to study in China. The plan highlights six key sectors and seeks Chinese investment in public transport and clean energy.

>>23608153 Video: Teaching Mandarin in Victorian schools, student exchange top of China strategy – Premier Jacinta Allan secured an agreement with China’s Education Minister Huai Jinpeng to promote Mandarin teaching in Victorian schools and expand student exchanges across all levels. The memorandum establishes a joint working group meeting annually to drive programs, building on ties revived by Daniel Andrews in 2023. Allan, who has made education central to her China strategy, said it would create more opportunities for Victorian teachers and students to engage with Chinese culture. During the trip she also announced Chinese firm Trina Solar will build a $435m battery farm in Victoria’s Kiewa Valley, while a major Suburban Rail Loop contract looms.

>>23613325 COMMENTARY: Albanese faces embarrassment over PNG deal as China prepares to swing in - “Anthony Albanese came to PNG expecting to ink a momentous ANZUS-style treaty … He left, instead, with a flimsy commitment to sign the treaty at an undisclosed date, after PNG’s cabinet failed to endorse the deal… The fact that this is the second such failure in just over a week is highly embarrassing… Marape must get cabinet agreement for the treaty text, which confirms PNG would be required to ‘act to meet the common danger’ if Australia came under attack… There’s only one potential adversary of consequence this could apply to - the People’s Republic of China… China will also swing into action to try to derail the agreement… The blame for this highly damaging failure rests with Albanese.” – Ben Packham, The Australian

>>23613408 Kevin Rudd calls out China’s Pacific ambition - Kevin Rudd has accused Beijing of being the “principal driving factor” behind disruption in the Indo-Pacific, using tougher language than Anthony Albanese has employed. Speaking via video to a United States Studies Centre event, Rudd said China’s rapid military expansion, including a surface fleet now larger than America’s, and coercive economic behaviour had “deep significance.” He cited the PLA Navy’s circumnavigation of Australia and live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea. Rudd argued Australia must rely on US partnership, intelligence assets, and defence industry ties to counter Beijing, expressing confidence AUKUS will withstand its current review. Former US intelligence chief Avril Haine also urged aggressive joint pushback, highlighting expanded trilateral intelligence cooperation with Japan.

>>23613432 Beijing huffs about Albanese government’s “two-faced policy towards China” - Beijing has accused Canberra of trying to “butter bread on both sides,” with state-run China Daily warning that Australia’s “two-faced policy towards China is not sustainable.” The editorial, timed for the Australia-China High Level Dialogue in Beijing, urged Australia to treat China as a “responsible major country” rather than deepen military ties with the US, Japan, and the Philippines. It criticised AUKUS and recent joint exercises in the South China Sea as “provocative,” while noting Australia continues to benefit from China trade. The paper cautioned that cooperation depends on Canberra ceasing “infringements on [China’s] core interests.”

#43 - Part 62

Australia / China Tensions - Part 10

>>23617361 PNG to consult Beijing on Australian defence treaty - Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape will send Defence Minister Billy Joseph to Beijing to explain the delayed “Pukpuk Treaty” with Australia, giving China a high-level chance to challenge the pact. Anthony Albanese left Port Moresby without signing the mutual defence treaty, settling instead for a communique after PNG’s cabinet failed to reach quorum. The deal would commit both nations to “act to meet the common danger” if attacked, but critics in PNG warn it threatens sovereignty and risks breaching the constitution. Beijing, already warning against alliances that “target third countries”, is expected to lobby hard. Albanese said cabinet approval in PNG was still pending but insisted Australia is “ready to go.”

>>23617370 COMMENTARY: Albanese’s horror week as the Pacific’s twice-jilted bride - “Like a twice-jilted bride, Anthony Albanese has had a horror week. He turned up first to Vanuatu to sign the Nakamal security agreement and then to Papua New Guinea to sign the Pukpuk Defence Treaty, only to have both fall over… In the Pacific battle for influence, the Prime Minister’s failure to get either over the line… is a humiliating blow, even if it is unlikely to spell the end of either deal. It is tempting to blame Beijing… Doing so overlooks the messy internal coalition politics of Melanesian nations, and underplays their reticence to put all diplomatic eggs in one basket. Yet the Pukpuk pact asks a great deal of PNG, which for half a century has pursued a ‘friend to all, enemy of none’ policy… Australia has learned the hard way that Pacific nations cannot be rushed.” – Amanda Hodge, The Australian

>>23622811 China urges Papua New Guinea not to exclude other countries after it signed 'Pukpuk' communique with Australia – Beijing has urged Papua New Guinea not to sign an exclusive defence treaty with Australia, warning any pact should not undermine “third parties” or compromise sovereignty. The Chinese embassy said PNG must “properly handle issues bearing on its sovereignty and long-term interests.” The warning followed the failure of Australia and PNG to sign the 'Pukpuk' treaty this week, with the two countries instead issuing a communique. Prime Minister James Marape confirmed Defence Minister Billy Joseph would brief China and Indonesia. The pact, if signed, would commit PNG and Australia to mutual defence. Critics such as ANU’s Michael Kabuni say PNG needs coastguard, policing and disaster response, not combat readiness, warning a larger military risks destabilisation and fuelling tribal conflict.

>>23627145 China’s warning to Australian delegation over ‘two-faced’ policy in ‘security-focused’ Beijing talks – At the Australia-China High Level Dialogue in Beijing, senior Chinese figures warned a visiting Australian delegation that Canberra’s “two-faced policy” of deepening security ties with the US and Japan while maintaining heavy trade with China “is not sustainable”. The meeting, led by Craig Emerson and Warwick Smith, was described as “robust” and “less friendly”, with disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea dominating closed-door sessions. Chinese delegates cast Australia’s actions as “provocative”, while Australian officials including ambassador Scott Dewar defended Canberra’s stance. Analysts said Beijing appeared more confident, but Australia viewed itself as having weathered China’s trade coercion intact.

>>23627559 Jacinta Allan’s cultural revolution tries to escape the shadow of Dan’s China deals – On her first official trip to China, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan emphasised cultural and people-to-people links, branding prominent Chinese-born and Chinese-background Victorians as “navigators” of a softer China strategy. She launched a tourism campaign with actor Wu Chun, who studied in Melbourne, and announced new Suburban Rail Loop tunnel boring machines from China, but sidestepped questions about activist Kevin Yam and journalist Cheng Lei. Analysts warned her emphasis on empathy risks appearing “fawning” without extracting concrete benefits. Allan’s approach contrasted with Daniel Andrews’ transactional Belt and Road diplomacy, though critics suggested her outreach also plays to Chinese-Australian voters back home.

#43 - Part 63

Australia / China Tensions - Part 11

>>23636705 Critics of Australia-PNG defence treaty circle in fresh threat to pact – Papua New Guinea’s Pukpuk defence treaty with Australia has come under renewed scrutiny, with former prime minister Peter O’Neill warning it undermines the nation’s “friends to all, enemies to none” policy. PNG’s former ambassador to Belgium and the EU, Joshua Kalinoe, urged a full domestic review, including an eminent persons panel and parliamentary oversight. Beijing has cautioned PNG against signing “exclusive” deals, while Prime Minister James Marape may meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the UN. Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jr defended the treaty as a “framework of trust, respect and responsibility” for regional security. The agreement would commit PNG and Australia to mutual defence, embed personnel in each other’s forces, and bar security pacts with third parties, though critics fear erosion of sovereignty.

>>23636726 Jacinta Allan rejects claims of naivety, says China relationship built on values not transactions – Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has rejected claims she is naive in her approach to Beijing, insisting Chinese officials and leaders showed Victoria “an incredibly warm extension of friendship”. Critics argue she underestimates the transactional and strategic nature of the Chinese Communist Party, which uses trade leverage, education exchanges and diaspora influence to advance its interests. Throughout her five-day trip, Allan repeatedly referred to Chinese-Victorians as “navigators” of her new China strategy. Allan was reluctant to say whether previously imprisoned television presenter Cheng Lei and Hong Kong activist Kevin Yam, both of whom live in Melbourne, were also “navigators” of the relationship. Dismissing suggestions of naivety, Allan said her meetings with officials such as Education Minister Huai Jinpeng focused on “shared values” like family and security.

>>23665651 Video: Vanuatu plans to sign police deal with China while Nakamal pact with Australia is left hanging – Vanuatu has announced plans to finalise a new policing agreement with China after its landmark $500 million Nakamal Security Agreement with Australia was left unsigned. Police Minister Andrew Napuat met Chinese counterpart Wang Xiaohong in Beijing, where Beijing pledged $700,000 in police equipment, including drones, motorcycles and INTERPOL systems. Mr Napuat said China’s support addressed “security issues relating to climate change, transnational crime, cybercrime” rather than militarisation. He denied any link between the Chinese deal and the stalled Australian pact, insisting Vanuatu was “not a proxy in a geopolitical game” and would “continue to exercise its sovereignty”.

>>23665667 Australia cops it over Vanuatu's police deal with China – Vanuatu’s Police Minister Andrew Napuat has lashed out at Australia’s Pacific Minister Pat Conroy, telling him to “check his facts” after Conroy downplayed Port Vila’s plan to formalise a policing memorandum with China. Mr Napuat accused Australia of “arrogance and ignorance”, saying Vanuatu’s decisions were made “collectively as a government” and should be respected. He said the planned deal would clarify China’s policing role without establishing a permanent presence. Canberra maintains that Pacific security should remain within the “Pacific family” as it pursues its own stalled $500 million Nakamal pact, which includes provisions effectively limiting Chinese involvement.

>>23670086 ‘Provocative’: China’s riot police endanger fragile Pacific island peace – Chinese police have been secretly training Solomon Islands officers in riot control in Malaita province and expanding the controversial Fengqiao surveillance program beyond Honiara. Photos obtained by The Australian show officers demonstrating riot batons and signing up villages for fingerprinting under the guise of “community policing”. Former Malaita premier Daniel Suidani called the operation “very provocative” and a threat to local freedoms, accusing Beijing of trying to “suppress the people”. He warned that “Kung Fu diplomacy” and police gifts were precursors to Chinese mining interests as he mounts a comeback bid against the pro-Beijing government.

#43 - Part 64

Australia / China Tensions - Part 12

>>23670099 COMMENTARY: Island paradise becomes testing ground for China’s riot control – “Beijing’s test case, the once fiercely independent Solomon Islands, tells you everything you need to know about Xi Jinping’s plan for our neighbours. The security pact that China signed with Solomon Islands in 2022 was just the precursor… Beijing increasingly is pulling the strings… imposing the insidious ‘Fengqiao’ surveillance scheme under the guise of community policing. We are losing this contest faster than we can imagine. We were hopelessly outplayed by a much more aggressive rival. Celsus Talifilu – who memorably acquired the draft security pact between China and Solomon Islands and posted it on the internet… reflected on the threat posed by the ‘Fengqiao Experience’ to Solomon Islands’ freedom. ‘Its essence is simple but dangerous: get ordinary citizens to spy on each other, report “troublemakers”, and pressure anyone who steps out of line back into conformity… Malaita, with its proud history of resisting foreign influence, must not become the testing ground for imported systems that erode trust between people.’ Tragically, it already is the testing ground.” – Stephen Rice, The Australian

>>23684666 Chinese involvement in Suburban Rail Loop under national security review – The $9bn Suburban Rail Loop East contract is under review by the Foreign Investment Review Board over Chinese state-owned involvement via John Holland, a key member of the preferred TransitLinX consortium. John Holland, owned by China Communications Construction Company since 2015, would help build and operate the $34.5bn line from Cheltenham to Box Hill. FIRB’s review, triggered by national security rules for “critical infrastructure,” could delay the deal’s finalisation. Both John Holland and the Victorian government described the process as routine, though analysts say concerns over data access and Chinese influence could have broader implications for major infrastructure projects.

>>23703774 Video: Papua New Guinea may sit out potential conflict between Australia and China despite Pukpuk defence treaty – Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape says there is a “high possibility” his country would not join a conflict involving Australia and China, despite the new Pukpuk mutual defence treaty. He told the ABC’s 7.30 that while the treaty commits both nations to “act to meet the common danger,” each retains sovereign decision-making. “We don’t expect Australia to drop everything and run to us,” Marape said, adding PNG would urge “peace, not war.” He ruled out Australian bases in PNG and said the treaty does not apply to potential border conflicts with Indonesia.

>>23713275 ‘Terrible cost for the world’: Taiwan must not fall, warns Scott Morrison – Former prime minister Scott Morrison has warned that surrendering Taiwan to China would amount to “appeasement” and come at a “terrible cost” for global security. Speaking at a defence forum in Taipei, Morrison said a Chinese takeover would push US forces out of East Asia and provide Beijing with a “springboard” to project power into the Pacific. He urged the West to boost defence spending and strengthen deterrence while Donald Trump’s presence in the White House “deters any hasty action by President Xi.” Morrison said Taiwan’s fall would cripple the global semiconductor industry and embolden autocratic powers such as Russia and Iran. US senators also warned that recent Chinese naval drills near Australia were intended to intimidate.

>>23722558 China further limits the export of rare earth materials and products – China has tightened controls on rare-earth exports, requiring new licences for technologies used in mining, smelting and production-line maintenance. The move, effective immediately, extends earlier restrictions on the minerals critical to global auto, defence and electronics industries. Beijing said the curbs target foreign entities transferring Chinese-origin materials for “sensitive military use,” citing national security risks. The European Commission expressed concern, urging China to remain a “reliable partner.” The US and EU have accused Beijing of weaponising supply chains, while both are ramping up local production and recycling efforts to reduce reliance. China controls 40 per cent of global reserves and dominates refining operations worldwide.

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>>23722664 Video: Trump threatens to impose additional 100% tariff on China – US President Donald Trump has vowed to impose a new 100% tariff on Chinese imports from next month, accusing Beijing of “becoming very hostile” and attempting to hold the world “captive” through its control of rare earth exports. Trump said he might cancel a planned meeting with President Xi Jinping but later clarified he would attend “regardless.” The warning follows China’s new export restrictions and additional port fees for US-linked ships, escalating an already tense trade standoff. Trump also announced forthcoming export controls on critical software, calling the measures necessary to “protect American industry and national security” as both sides prepare for difficult trade talks in South Korea.

>>23722676 Anthony Albanese will offer priority access to Australia’s critical minerals and rare earths to Donald Trump – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will offer US President Donald Trump priority access to Australia’s critical minerals and rare earths to help reduce Washington’s reliance on China for key defence and energy resources. The plan would make the US and UK preferred buyers under a new strategic supply framework, with details to be finalised during Albanese’s visit to the White House on October 20. An industry source said the success of Australia’s $1.2 billion critical minerals reserve “hinges” on Trump’s approval. The proposal follows US moves to secure alternative sources after Beijing tightened rare earth exports.

>>23726229 Albanese scrambles to lock in minerals deal before Trump meeting – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is rushing to finalise a $1.2 billion critical minerals deal with the United States before meeting President Donald Trump on October 20. A leaked departmental brief shows plans for price floors, government loans and offtake agreements to secure supplies of rare earths vital to defence, clean energy and AI industries. The push comes after Trump threatened 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods following Beijing’s new export controls on rare earths. Ukrainian officials have also urged Australia to share mining expertise to support a US-Ukraine minerals deal. Ambassador Kevin Rudd said Australia’s world-class mining capacity makes it “first in line” to strengthen America’s supply chain resilience.

>>23742360 ‘China v the world’: US calls on Australia in rare earths fight with Beijing – (Video) US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged Australia and other allies to unite against China’s sweeping new export controls on rare earth minerals, declaring it “China versus the world.” Bessent said Beijing’s plan to require global approval for products containing even trace amounts of Chinese-sourced minerals was an unacceptable bid to control supply chains worldwide. He warned that Western nations “have lots of levers we can pull for products China needs that could be equally damaging,” pledging “a fulsome, coordinated response” from the US, Europe, Australia, Canada and Asian democracies. “Bureaucrats in China cannot manage the supply chain or manufacturing process for the rest of the world,” he said.

>>23742497 Flight risk fears after bail for ‘China spy’ – An alleged Chinese spy has been granted bail by an ACT magistrate despite prosecutors warning she could flee Australia using a new passport from Beijing. The woman, accused of reckless foreign interference for allegedly gathering information on Canberra’s Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Association, was released on a $633,000 surety under strict conditions including daily police reporting, a ban on encrypted apps and a 200m exclusion zone around Chinese diplomatic premises. Magistrate Jane Campbell said she “did not have a crystal ball” but found the risk of flight or witness interference insufficient to deny bail. Prosecutors cited “unexplained wealth,” embassy contact and family links to China’s Public Security Bureau.

>>23742543 Video: Former US Marine pilot who trained Chinese flyers appeals extradition from Australia – Former US Marine pilot Daniel Duggan has appealed his extradition to the United States, arguing in the Federal Court in Canberra that his alleged conduct was not a crime under Australian law at the time. Duggan, 57, faces US charges of violating arms control laws by training Chinese military pilots to land on aircraft carriers. His lawyer, Christopher Parkin, called the case “uncharted territory”, citing the dual-criminality requirement. Prosecutor Trent Glover argued nothing in law barred extradition, saying Duggan’s offences clearly met treaty conditions. Duggan’s wife, Saffrine, said her husband was being used as a “pawn in an ideological war” between the US and China and pleaded for his release.

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>>23748379 Video: RAAF military plane targeted with flares by Chinese fighter jet over South China Sea – A Chinese PLA-AF Su-35 has released flares dangerously close to an Australian RAAF P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea, in what Canberra called an “unsafe and unprofessional” act. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said no damage was done but described the incident as “dangerous.” He said the issue has been raised with Beijing and the Chinese embassy in Canberra. Defence reaffirmed Australia’s right to conduct surveillance in international airspace under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It follows a similar incident in February involving a J-16 fighter, as regional tensions over airspace and navigation rights intensify.

>>23755115 Video: Donald Trump says critical minerals deal with Australia will produce 'so much' in race against China – Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese have announced a US–Australia Critical Minerals Framework worth up to $US8.5 billion, funding mining and refining projects to reduce reliance on China’s supply chain dominance. The first project — a gallium refinery in Western Australia — will produce 100 tonnes annually under Alcoa-Sojitz, with $US3 billion in joint investment expected in six months. Trump said the deal would deliver “so much critical minerals and rare earths you won’t know what to do with them.” Albanese called it a step toward full supply-chain partnership. The framework gives both nations ownership stakes and guaranteed offtake rights, with projects spanning multiple states, including neodymium, titanium, zircon, and graphite production.

>>23755241 Trump meets Albanese, nailing down rare earth deal; move cannot change supply landscape soon due to refinery bottleneck: expert – "US President Donald Trump met visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday at the White House, nailing down a rare earth agreement, but Chinese observers noted the deal cannot shake China's dominant status in supply chain in short term, as the thorny issue is advanced refining technologies rather than reserves. Yu Lei, a professor from the Department of International Politics and Economics at Shandong University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the core issue behind the rare earth and critical mineral agreement signed by the US and Australia lies in technology rather than resources … Yu warned, 'first is the market issue — its rare earth products lack sufficient export markets, and US domestic demand is far from enough to absorb Australia's production capacity; second is the technological bottleneck — there is still sufficient gap for Australia to meet the requirements for high-purity refining.' Chen Hong, a professor and director of the Australian Studies Centre at East China Normal University, described Albanese's Washington visit as 'Band-Aid diplomacy' with the US; however, Australia should also bear in mind the big picture and long-term interests for itself. 'Being the US ally should not be at the expense of stability in Asia-Pacific,' the expert said." – Zhang Han and Ma Tong, The Global Times

>>23755255 Video: China hits back at Australia’s protest after PLA jet releases flares close to RAAF aircraft over South China Sea – China has accused Australia of “illegally intruding” into its airspace after a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft was approached by a Chinese Su-35 fighter jet that released flares nearby over the South China Sea. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Senior Colonel Li Jianjian said Chinese forces were dispatched to “track, monitor, take countermeasures and warn off the aircraft,” warning that the Australian move “seriously violated China’s sovereignty.” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the Australian patrol had acted lawfully and that the incident was “unsafe and unprofessional,” prompting a diplomatic protest in Beijing. It was the second such confrontation this year.

>>23759585 Solomon Islands ‘anti-Beijing warrior’ Daniel Suidani dies – Former Malaita premier Daniel Suidani, a leading critic of China’s influence in the Pacific, has died in hospital in Honiara. Known for banning Chinese companies from his province and opposing the Solomon Islands’ 2019 diplomatic switch from Taiwan to Beijing, Suidani was ousted in 2023 for refusing to accept the “one China” policy but later reinstated by the High Court. He had recently vowed to reclaim leadership, declaring “I still have the support of the people.” Suidani condemned China’s “Fengqiao Experience” policing model in Malaita, calling it an intrusion on Melanesian culture. His death is seen as a major loss for Australia’s regional allies critical of Beijing’s expansion.

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>>23775923 Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Sanae Takaichi urges closer ties with Australia to counter China – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Japan’s new leader, Sanae Takaichi, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, where she urged that Japan and Australia “spearhead efforts” for a free and open Indo-Pacific and deepen cooperation beyond the Quad. Ms Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, said both nations had “the will and capacity” to realise this vision. Mr Albanese said the two countries stood for “freedom in the Pacific” and highlighted Australia’s purchase of Mogami-class frigates. As Mr Trump and Xi Jinping prepare for their summit in South Korea, Canberra and Tokyo are strengthening strategic ties amid rising tensions over China’s regional ambitions.

>>23775946 Video: Albanese raises jet flare incident with Chinese premier ‘very directly’ – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he confronted Chinese Premier Li Qiang “very directly” over a Chinese military jet’s deployment of flares near an Australian P-8A Poseidon aircraft on October 19. Speaking in Kuala Lumpur, Albanese called it “an incident of concern” and said, “friends are able to discuss issues frankly.” The meeting followed his Washington visit and a $13 billion rare earths deal with US President Donald Trump. Li said China-Australia ties were “seeing an upward momentum.” Albanese also met Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to reaffirm support for the Quad and a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

>>23780188 Video: Fearing a flare-up, Anthony Albanese shoots from the lip about his mate, Xi Jinping – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his trust in Chinese President Xi Jinping “has not been shaken” after a Chinese jet fired a flare near an Australian patrol plane, calling Premier Li Qiang “my friend” while insisting “friends are able to discuss issues frankly.” In Kuala Lumpur, Albanese urged Asian leaders “not to succumb to fatalism” and to share responsibility for regional stability. He said Xi “has never given [him] a reason not to trust him.” Albanese reaffirmed hopes for a Quad meeting early next year and welcomed the upcoming Trump–Xi summit, describing his US critical minerals deal as “a really good outcome.”

>>23784970 Australia, Asian mates take veiled swipe at Beijing as PM prepares to dine with Trump – Australia and eleven Southeast Asian nations warned that “intensifying geo-strategic shifts” were “heightening the risk of conflict,” in a statement seen as a rebuke to Beijing after Chinese military provocations. The ASEAN–Australia declaration called for restraint, “freedom of navigation,” and adherence to international law. Anthony Albanese said it reflected a “shared commitment to upholding a peaceful and stable Southeast Asia.” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said engagement with China “doesn’t mean condoning excesses.” Albanese now heads to APEC in South Korea, where Donald Trump and Xi Jinping will discuss trade and rare earths. Chinese Premier Li Qiang accused the US of “economic bullying.” Albanese reaffirmed support for the Philippines and Japan.

>>23788869 Rare win: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping use superpowers for good – (Video) Donald Trump hailed an “amazing meeting” with Xi Jinping after securing a trade deal to ease US-China tensions, pledging to cut tariffs by 10 per cent in exchange for Beijing delaying rare earth export limits. Xi called for the two nations to be “partners and friends,” with both leaders agreeing to reciprocal visits next year. Mr Trump said “Taiwan never came up” but cited talks on Ukraine and fentanyl. Anthony Albanese welcomed the thaw, calling it “good news” for global stability. Xinhua confirmed a “basic consensus” but gave few details, while Kevin Rudd warned that underlying strategic tensions would persist.

>>23788893 Rudd hails Australia’s ‘first-class’ ties with Trump – Australia’s ambassador Kevin Rudd praised Anthony Albanese for maintaining “a first-class working relationship” with Donald Trump while repairing ties with China. Speaking at the Citi A50 Investment Summit, Mr Rudd said Canberra was viewed “positively” in Washington, citing the recent multibillion-dollar critical minerals deal as proof. At an APEC dinner in South Korea, Mr Trump told Mr Albanese, “You’ve done a fantastic job … we’re working together on rare earths.” Mr Rudd said the Prime Minister had “restabilised the China relationship” after disruptions under Scott Morrison, noting that the “strategic tensions” in the region would persist but Australia’s diplomacy was navigating them effectively.

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>>23796791 Video: Albo and Xi rub shoulders at APEC – Anthony Albanese briefly met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea, a day after HMAS Ballarat conducted a freedom-of-navigation exercise in the South China Sea. Mr Albanese said he discussed recent talks with Premier Li Qiang and raised concerns about the flare incident involving a Chinese jet. He dismissed escalation claims, saying the exercise was “routine.” The meeting followed eased US-China trade tensions and Beijing’s 12-month delay on rare earth export limits. Mr Albanese said Australia’s minerals were “in demand around the world” and welcomed South Korean investment in lithium and critical minerals. After cordial exchanges with Xi and Donald Trump, he said Australia’s diplomacy was “in good shape,” crediting “consistency in leadership” for stronger international ties.

>>23814376 ASIO spy boss takes aim at China, accusing Beijing of widespread intellectual property theft – ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has accused China of “wholesale intellectual property theft” and political interference while warning that several nations are “willing and capable” of assassinations in Australia. Speaking at the Lowy Institute, Burgess said ASIO is confronting overlapping threats from China, Russia and Iran, and vowed to keep “calling out” the Chinese Communist Party for espionage and influence operations. He said Beijing’s officials “don’t understand” Australia’s system or ASIO’s independence, adding that Chinese complaints “won’t stop my resolve”. Burgess said intelligence cooperation with the United States remains “as strong as it’s ever been” under Donald Trump’s presidency.

>>23814383 Australian spy chief accuses China of IP theft and meddling; experts say remarks reflect certain Australian officials’ attempt to mislead public – "An Australian spy chief on Tuesday accused Chinese security services of widespread intellectual property theft and political meddling… Chinese experts criticized the series of statements, saying they reflect some Australia politicians' anxiety and bias toward China's technological and military progress. Mike Burgess… claimed that he would continue to call out China for harming Australian interests… Burgess claimed that China would understand ‘a Western liberal democracy and the role and the statutory standing of the security service. We work for the government of the day but our security assessments and our security action are independent,’ Australian spy chief claimed. Claiming that China's intelligence agencies are engaged in large-scale intellectual property theft and political interference… reveals the Australian spy chief's deep rooted sense of anxiety and unease, Yu Lei, chief research fellow at the Research Center for Pacific Island Countries of Liaocheng University in East China's Shandong Province, told the Global Times. As for Burgess's claim that China fails to understand how the Western mechanism operates, the accusation itself reveals both arrogance and ignorance, Chen Hong, director of New Zealand Studies Centre from East China Normal University, told the Global Times. Chen said the arrogance lies in the belief that the Western model of democracy is inherently superior and that China must learn from or conform to it. In reality, China has its own political system and model of social governance. As Australia's spy chief, Burgess made these remarks without offering any evidence - vague and misleading statements aimed not at protecting the public, but at shaping public perception, Chen said." – Zhao Yusha, The Global Times

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>>23843559 Video: Spy chief warns of China espionage threat to business, critical infrastructure - ASIO director-general Mike Burgess says Chinese state-backed hackers are attempting to infiltrate Australia’s critical infrastructure, warning the nation has now crossed the threshold for “high-impact sabotage”. Addressing an ASIC forum, he cited Chinese groups Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon probing telecommunications, water, transport and energy networks to gain persistent, undetected access. Burgess said one nation-state – “no prizes for guessing which one” – had repeatedly scanned Australian systems, mirroring activity seen in the US territory of Guam where hackers positioned for potential disruption. He warned that a foreign actor could “turn off telecommunications… or cripple our financial system”, estimating espionage cost the economy $12.5 billion last financial year. Burgess urged companies to harden defences, saying rising grievance and conspiracy movements were also driving greater extremism risks.

>>23843570 Video: Chinese state-backed hackers a rising, aggressive threat, ASIO chief Mike Burgess says - ASIO director-general Mike Burgess has warned business leaders that Chinese state-sponsored hackers are driving a new wave of espionage and cyber sabotage targeting Australia’s critical infrastructure. Speaking at ASIC’s annual forum, he said “we’re there now” on the threshold of high-impact sabotage, with hostile actors probing water, transport, telecommunications and energy networks to gain persistent, hidden access. Burgess cited groups Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon as operating for Chinese intelligence and the military. He said espionage cost Australia billions, including $2bn in stolen trade secrets each year, and warned that attacks could “cripple our financial system” or “turn off the power during a heatwave”. Burgess urged companies to fix known vulnerabilities, noting 99 per cent of intrusions exploit existing weaknesses.

>>23847859 Beijing gets personal with Australia’s ‘irresponsible’ ASIO chief Mike Burgess - China has launched an unusually direct attack on ASIO director-general Mike Burgess after he warned that Chinese state-backed hackers had probed Australian critical infrastructure. Beijing’s foreign ministry accused Burgess of “repeatedly hurling attacks at China”, “spreading disinformation” and “deliberately sowing division”, urging him to stop making “irresponsible statements”. Chinese state media amplified the denunciation, with Beijing-aligned academics claiming ASIO was “ideology-driven” and engaged in “baseless smears”. Burgess, backed by both major parties, recently warned that Chinese groups such as Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon had attempted to map and infiltrate water, transport, telecommunications and energy networks. The clash follows years of escalating espionage concerns and high-level efforts, including clandestine meetings in Beijing, to curb China’s activity.

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Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 1

>>23562548 AI apps face $49.5m fine for creating fake nudes of Aussie students - Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has issued a formal warning to an overseas company running “nudify” apps that strip clothes from images, the first step toward a $49.5m fine. Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the platforms were used “nefariously by Australian schoolchildren, to create deepfake image-based abuse of their peers” and marketed features like undressing “any girl” with “schoolgirl” and “sex mode” options. She warned the services are creating child sexual abuse material and causing “tremendous harm to young and teenage girls in schools every week.” Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government will consult on new safeguards, as reports of fake images involving minors continue to rise.

>>23591096 Paedophile priest John Sidney Denham dies in prison hospital - Defrocked Catholic priest John Sidney Denham, described as one of Australia’s worst paedophiles, has died aged 82 at Long Bay prison hospital. Charged in 2008 following Strike Force Georgiana’s investigations, he was sentenced in 2010 for abusing 39 boys, with further convictions in 2015 after more victims came forward. His crimes at Newcastle’s St Pius X College in the 1970s and 80s left lasting scars, with many victims taking their own lives and one death prompting the child abuse royal commission. Former detective Kristi Faber, who led Strike Force Georgiana, called Denham “one of the worst” and said survivors’ bravery in coming forward stopped further offending. The Maitland-Newcastle Diocese acknowledged Denham as a “prolific and notorious child-abuser” and offered condolences to his victims and their families.

>>23591125 (2015) Priest John Sidney Denham sentenced to another 13 years jail for sexual abuse of boys - (Video) John Sidney Denham, a defrocked Catholic priest described as “sadistic,” has been sentenced to a further 13 years for abusing at least 57 boys in Newcastle between 1968 and 1986. Judge Helen Syme said the crimes, committed at St Pius X Catholic School and elsewhere, included grooming, molestation, and brutal rapes, often combined with threats and canings. She found Denham was protected by fellow priests Tom Brennan and Ron Picken, who facilitated the abuse. Showing no remorse, Denham received a maximum 19-year sentence, extending his prison term until at least 2028.

>>23591187 (2018) ‘They don't really get it’: Apology appreciated, but it won't change anything for John's family - Lou Pirona says his son John, whose 2012 suicide became the catalyst for a royal commission, was “an important cog” in exposing systemic child abuse. John, a Lake Macquarie firefighter, was 13 when he was abused by sadistic priest John Denham at St Pius X High School, protected by principal Tom Brennan. Though Pirona appreciates the government’s national apology, he and wife Pam stress it cannot ease their grief: “But it doesn’t bring John back, does it?” Pam wrote to Bishop Bill Wright after the Church admitted Brennan’s abuse, saying it was the first real acknowledgement of betrayed parental trust. Still, she believes Church leaders “don’t really get it” - the profound pain inflicted on victims and families. John’s final words, “Too much pain,” remain etched in their lives.

>>23591238 Police comb through 550,000 files to identify Sydney victims of alleged childcare paedophile – Federal police are sifting through 550,000 unique files, including tens of thousands of videos, allegedly linked to a Sydney childcare worker accused of filming abuse of children in his care. The man, barred from being identified under court order, faces seven charges of producing child abuse material and possession of abusive data. The Australian Federal Police say his alleged offending may mirror that of Victorian childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown. The man, who worked across multiple Sydney centres over a decade, was arrested in July and remains in custody.

>>23608173 Alan Jones hit with five new charges of indecent assault – Former broadcaster Alan Jones has been charged with five additional counts of indecent assault, lifting the total against him to 40. The 84-year-old, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of offences between 2001 and 2019 involving 11 men aged 17 and over. Allegations include groping, kissing “using his tongue,” and masturbating during one incident, at properties including his Sydney homes and farm. His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, has challenged police handling of Jones’ phone and cited contradictory witness statements. Strike Force Bonnefin, established following a major investigation by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, is examining allegations Jones used his influence to prey on young men. Jones maintains he is “certainly not guilty.” - https://qresear.ch/?q=Alan+Jones

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>>23608173 Veteran broadcaster Alan Jones charged over indecent assault allegations - (18 November 2024) - https://archive.vn/lfpNB#22008499

>>23617381 Video: New details emerge of assault allegations against Alan Jones - Former broadcaster Alan Jones, 84, now faces 27 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching after updated court documents revealed further details of alleged incidents at public venues and private residences across NSW. Nine complainants remain, down from 11, with accusations including groping, kissing, and sexual contact at locations such as the Sydney Opera House, Gunners Barracks restaurant, lifts at his home and workplace, and his Fitzroy Falls farm. Jones’ lawyer, Bryan Wrench, attacked the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for what he called a “backflip” in shifting the case from a jury trial to a local court hearing, expected to run months. Strike Force Bonnefin continues to oversee the investigation. Jones denies all charges.

>>23694978 How Dassi, Elly and Nicole survived Malka Leifer – The new documentary 'Surviving Malka Leifer' revisits the sexual abuse endured by sisters Dassi Erlich, Elly Sapper and Nicole Meyer at Melbourne’s Adass Israel School, exposing both the depth of their trauma and the system that protected their abuser. Directed by Adam Kamien, the film traces the sisters’ lives from their abusive childhood through the decade-long struggle to extradite Leifer from Israel, where she fled with the school’s support. It features revelations from their 2023 Melbourne trial, where Leifer was found guilty of abusing Dassi and Elly but acquitted of charges relating to Nicole. The documentary portrays the sisters’ resilience, the emotional complexity of their pursuit of justice, and their enduring pain, showing how the scars of abuse persist long after a legal verdict is reached.

>>23694981 Video: Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper - The three sisters who fought back - Three sisters who exposed Malka Leifer’s abuse break their silence in a new Stan documentary, tracing their fight for justice across 15 years. - A Current Affair

>>23694984 Video: Revealed - Surviving Malka Leifer | Official Trailer | A Stan Original Documentary Film - Surviving Malka Leifer is the 15-year saga of three young sisters who stared down political corruption, legal manoeuvring and community pressure to hold to account the ultra-orthodox head mistress who stole their childhood. The Stan Original documentary film Revealed - Surviving Malka Leifer premieres October 5, only on Stan. Warning: This film contains content about child sexual abuse that some viewers may find distressing. - Stan Australia

>>23694984 OPINION: Surviving Malka Leifer – “Sometimes almost unbearably sad, Surviving Malka Leifer offers a gripping look at trauma and resilience through the eyes of three sisters… Director Adam Kamien keeps the focus on them throughout… The result is an unflinching focus on the toll their struggle took on them; it’s a deeply personal story that at times is hard to bear. One of the more startling facts is how the abuse began well before the sisters went to high school… ‘Fear and hunger’ is how one sister describes the overwhelming emotions of her childhood… The sisters’ bravery is undeniable throughout this documentary. At times, their strength is the only thing that makes this story bearable; the extent of Leifer’s abuse is often shocking, the damage done heartbreaking. The positive is that despite it all, the trio stood up to power, demanded justice, and achieved it.” – Anthony Morris, ScreenHub

>>23723129 ‘Every single person plays a part’: The sisters who survived Malka Leifer – Three Melbourne sisters at the centre of the Malka Leifer sexual abuse case have shared their story in a new documentary, Surviving Malka Leifer, which details their decades-long pursuit of justice. Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper endured years of abuse, Leifer’s flight from Australia, and 74 legal hearings before the former school principal was extradited and jailed. The film, directed by Adam Kamien, explores their experiences and recovery. Meyer said revisiting the ordeal was “confronting but empowering”, while Erlich urged viewers to recognise that “every single person plays a part” in addressing abuse. The sisters said the documentary marks a transition from “fighting” to “healing.”

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Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 3

>>23730669 Inside the ABC’s Darkest Secret: The 1975 Pedophile Broadcast – (Video) A 1975 ABC radio interview featuring self-confessed pedophiles has resurfaced amid claims the broadcaster lied to Parliament and continues to suppress the tape. The 42-minute Lateline segment, hosted by Richard Neville, gave a platform to men boasting of grooming and abusing children — behaviour later defended by then-ABC chairman Richard Downing as “something the community ought to know about.” Journalist John Adams says the ABC denied possessing the recording in 2018 but forced him to sign a gag order after retrieving it in 2023. He argues the minister for communications should compel its release under subsection 78(3A) of the ABC Act, calling the episode “a national scandal buried for fifty years.”

>>23730683 Average Aussie defies the ABC in ‘extraordinary action’ and publishes 1975 paedophile broadcast – (Video) Economist and former political adviser John Adams has defied the ABC by uploading a suppressed 1975 Lateline segment featuring self-confessed pederasts to his YouTube channel, 'In the Interests of the People'. The broadcast, long buried by the ABC, included men describing the sexual exploitation of boys as young as 12. Adams obtained the tape in 2023 under a “personal use only” agreement but says he breached it “in the public interest” after the ABC refused release. The ABC condemned the broadcast as “abhorrent and deeply harmful” and said republication was “inappropriate,” while Adams called the move “a circuit breaker against Australia’s culture of concealment.”

>>23780215 Survivors of paedophile teacher Peter Farmer sue Victorian Education Department – Six survivors of paedophile teacher Peter Farmer are suing the Victorian Education Department, alleging it failed to protect them and allowed him to keep teaching — and offending — in the Northern Territory after complaints surfaced in the 1980s. Farmer, who groomed and assaulted students at a Newborough primary school, was jailed for six and a half years after pleading guilty to 10 charges. Judge Geoffrey Chettle described his conduct as “extensive, repetitive and repulsive”. Former students Lola* and Jo* told the ABC he was “an absolute mastermind”, normalising abuse in the classroom while calling victims his “wives”. Witness Dianne Smith said she reported seeing Farmer molest a girl in 1988, but he was allowed to resign and later taught elsewhere. Lawyer Grace Wilson said the department’s inaction allowed Farmer to continue abusing children, calling its response “a failure of duty of care”. The department has denied responsibility but issued an apology to victims.

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Child Sexual Abuse, Pedophilia, Human Trafficking and Satanism Investigations - Part 4

>>23780242 Video: On the dark web, paedophiles are sharing tips on how to abuse children in child care – A Four Corners investigation has found encrypted forums on the dark web where offenders exchange information about infiltrating childcare centres and evading detection. Professor Michael Salter of UNSW said the offenders’ own posts showed that “early child care [is] a conducive place for the abuse of children”. The forums contain so-called “handbooks” outlining grooming tactics and methods for gaining employment in child care. Some users also boasted of access to children, prompting calls for stronger regulation. The investigation links these forums to convicted offenders including former childcare worker Ashley Griffith, sentenced to life imprisonment for assaulting children in Australia and Italy. Former AFP agent Drew Viney said Griffith’s case was “one of the worst” he had seen, describing how forensic work led police to multiple centres. Experts warned that inadequate supervision made childcare facilities attractive to offenders, with Dr Mike Bourke urging vigilance and communication among parents and staff.

>>23784984 Online ‘hunters’ targeting girls, says AFP commissioner Krissy Barrett – Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has warned that boys and young men are “hunting, stalking and grooming teenagers online” and coercing them to commit acts of violence against themselves and others. In her first major address, Ms Barrett said “crimefluencers” glorifying sadism, nihilism and Satanism were forming decentralised online networks to target pre-teen and teenage girls. She revealed the AFP had identified 59 alleged offenders linked to these groups, with several international arrests made. A new AFP taskforce, Pompilid, will “identify, disrupt and dismantle” criminal ecosystems exploiting children. Ms Barrett said perpetrators sought notoriety, not money or sexual gratification. She also unveiled work with Microsoft on an AI tool to interpret emoji and slang in encrypted chats, as the AFP expands child exploitation and terrorism investigations.

>>23800897 Video: Queensland pedophile register to launch with names, photos by December – Queensland will become the first state to introduce a public sex offender register under Daniel’s Law, named in honour of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe, whose 2003 abduction and killing exposed critical failings in child protection and offender monitoring. Passed by parliament on Thursday, the legislation will allow parents to identify convicted child sex offenders by name, photograph and year of birth through a three-tier system. Tier 1 will list offenders under supervision or who have breached reporting rules; Tier 2 will allow searches for high-risk offenders in local areas; and Tier 3 will let parents apply to check specific individuals with child contact. Premier David Crisafulli said the law ends “the days of monsters hiding in plain sight,” while Police Minister Dan Purdie said it was about “vigilance, not vengeance.” Misuse carries penalties of up to 10 years’ jail. Daniel’s parents, Bruce and Denise Morcombe said Daniel’s Law would “save other children” and inspire nationwide adoption.

Trump removes tariffs on beef, fruit, coffee in affordability push

Jessica Gardner - Nov 15, 2025

Washington | Australian beef producers will lose the competitive edge that has helped exports to the United States soar this year after President Donald Trump removed tariffs on a range of agricultural goods to stave off an affordability crisis.

Trump signed an order late on Friday (Saturday AEDT) to immediately remove tariffs on hundreds of product categories, including beef, fruits, coffee, nuts and spices, in a move aimed at lowering costs on groceries as the administration faces pressure from voters to cut prices on everyday goods.

The tariffs in question were the so-called retaliatory levies Trump slapped on all nations based on what he described as a threat to national security from trade deficits. In the order published on Friday afternoon, he said information about the level of demand for certain products and domestic production capacity led him to determine it was “necessary and appropriate” to modify the tariffs.

Trade Minister Don Farrell welcomed the removal of the tariffs.

“The Albanese government’s position has been consistent and clear,” he said in a statement.

“Tariffs are an act of economic self harm and ultimately hurts American consumers. We maintain our position that tariffs on any Australian products are unjustified, and continue to advocate for their removal.”

As The Australian Financial Review reported earlier this week, sales of beef – Australia’s largest export to the US – hit $1.6 billion in the three months to September, a 26 per cent rise over the year.

Some of that growth has been attributed to the fact that Australian beef sold to the US is subject to a 10 per cent tariff, which is well below rates applied to rival producers such as Brazil (50 per cent) and New Zealand (15 per cent).

In 2024, Australia was the third-largest supplier of beef into the US, selling $US1.1 billion worth, according to data comparison site the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Beef from the top two suppliers, Canada ($US2.5 billion) and Mexico ($US1.7 billion), is already exempt from tariffs.

Australian exporters have taken advantage of the economic dislocation caused by Trump’s application of a wide range of levies on US trading partners. Australian businesses sold a record $6.9 billion of goods to the United States in the three months to September, up from $5.8 billion one year earlier, according to analysis by The Australian Financial Review of figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Trump administration’s renewed focus on affordability comes after Democrat candidates running in two gubernatorial elections and the New York mayor’s race surged to victory after campaigning to solve cost-of-living issues.

The victories were an echo of Trump’s 2024 presidential win, in which he capitalised on voter discontent after inflation surged as high as 9 per cent during Joe Biden’s presidency, as a result of pandemic-induced economic shocks.

Since then, however, Trump has glossed over economic concerns, such as signs of weakness in the labour market and inflation back up above 3 per cent.

Prices of ground beef and beef steak, in particular, were up more than 12 per cent compared to a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics in September. That was more than four times the rate of inflation.

A week ago, Trump directed blame for some of the rise onto the nation’s largest meat-packing companies and ordered the Justice Department to investigate.

Moves to scrap tariffs on beef may anger US cattlemen, who have been struggling with drought and tariffs on their inputs such as farm equipment and fertiliser used to grow feed.

Those ranchers were also enraged by Trump’s bailout of Argentina. That deal included increased beef exports to the US to lower prices, which helped to sink the price of cattle futures.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer teased the plan earlier in the day, saying that it fits with Trump’s broader strategy to create tariff exemptions for key goods and sectors.

“Now is the right time to, you know, to release some of these items the president said he was going to release,” Greer said. “This is a natural outgrowth of exactly what the present signalled, and that’s what he’s doing today.”

https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/trump-to-cut-tariffs-on-beef-fruit-coffee-in-affordability-push-20251115-p5nfmp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIy1Ank61yY

Former US spy boss Mike Rogers takes aim at Julian Assange and Edward Snowden

‘I would totally disagree with the course of action that they both chose’.

Josh Martin - 26 Oct 2025

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Online activists Julian Assange and Edward Snowden have divided opinion over the last two decades with their actions that exposed military secrets and government surveillance programs to the world.

Some see them as heroes of journalism and freedom of information, and others view the pair as traitors of the West.

Last year Assange - the founder of WikiLeaks - pleaded guilty to conspiring to obtain and disclose US defence information.

The Australian has been free for a year but isn’t free from condemnation.

Once described as the world’s most wanted man, Edward Snowden remains in Russia after exposing global surveillance programs conducted by the United States’ National Security Agency (NSA).

Retired Admiral Mike Rogers was the 17th director of the NSA and took control in the year after Snowden’s leaking, as the US also pursued Julian Assange.

He says both men made the wrong choice.

“I would totally disagree with the course of action that they both chose,” Rogers told 7NEWS podcast The Issue.

“My view is there are mechanisms to address legitimate concerns. Theft of classified information is not one of the ways to do it, nor is trying to co-opt others to do so a way to do it.”

Distrust in institutions

When asked if the pair’s behaviour led to a greater distrust in institutions, Rogers - a former adviser to Barack Obama and Donald Trump - replied that he believes the public has always been sceptical about governments.

“Well, I’ll only speak for my nation. Look, in America, there has always been a strong measure of distrust or concern around the power of government over its citizens,” Rogers said.

“Whether that’s government’s knowledge of citizens and their activities and preferences or what they choose to do, say, believe, feel, support - that’s always been an element in the American construct. We overthrew an empire, and we told the King, ‘Hey look nobody in London is going to tell us what to do’.

“I never had a problem with that. That’s part of being in a democracy. The way you try to mitigate those concerns, which are very valid, is what kind of oversight do you have? What kind of checks and balances do you have? What kind of independent reviews do you have? What kind of legal frameworks do you have in place to ensure you’re not abusing the authority, abusing the capability or the power that’s been placed in your hands?”

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‘We have nothing to hide’: Trump says Epstein files should be released

Michael Koziol - November 17, 2025

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Washington: US President Donald Trump has reversed course and instructed Republicans to vote in favour of releasing the so-called Epstein files, declaring he has “nothing to hide” and complaining that the issue is distracting from his accomplishments.

However, there is mounting concern that any potential release of the files will be hobbled by new investigations Trump has ordered into dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s links with prominent Democrats, including former president Bill Clinton.

Returning to Washington from his Florida club on Sunday night (Monday AEDT), Trump called on Republicans in the House of Representatives to support a bill that would – if passed by the Senate and signed by the president – compel the documents’ release.

“House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files, because we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party, including our recent Victory on the Democrat ‘Shutdown’,” Trump wrote on social media.

“Nobody cared about Jeffrey Epstein when he was alive and, if the Democrats had anything, they would have released it before our Landslide Election Victory.”

Trump lamented that the Epstein issue was distracting from his success in reducing taxes, securing the border, deporting illegal immigrants, “ending men in women’s sports”, bringing down inflation and other matters.

Republicans on the House oversight committee, which has received thousands of documents under subpoena from Epstein’s estate, last week released about 20,000 pages of material after Democrats published three select emails that mentioned Trump.

Trump said on Monday (AEDT) that the Justice Department had already produced a lot of material on Epstein and Congress should have access to whatever it was “legally entitled to”.

“I DON’T CARE!” he said. “All I do care about is that Republicans get BACK ON POINT.”

However, those pushing for the files to be released are now concerned that new criminal investigations ordered by Trump into Epstein’s links with Clinton and others will severely limit whatever files Congress is “entitled” to receive from the Department of Justice and the FBI.

“If they have ongoing investigations in certain areas, those documents can’t be released, so this might be a big smokescreen … as a last-ditch effort to prevent the release of the Epstein files,” Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, told ABC’s This Week.

Massie said he was confident a “deluge” of Republicans – 100 or more – would support the bill to compel the files’ release. “I’m hoping to get a veto-proof majority on this legislation,” he said, referring to the two-thirds majority needed (in both chambers) to override a presidential veto.

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Brad Battin ousted as Victorian opposition leader, Jess Wilson becomes state's first female Liberal leader

April Glover - Nov 18, 2025

Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin has been ousted in a leadership spill, with Jess Wilson emerging as the first female Liberal leader in the state's history.

Battin conceded defeat following a short party room meeting today and confirmed the vote "didn't go my way" when fronting media.

"The Victorian Liberal Party need to make sure that we're on path to ensure that we can get into power at the next election, because we need to see genuine change and we can't just wait for it to happen," Battin said in a short address.

"Politics isn't about just being inside the parliament. It's actually about people. It's about the people we're supposed to be representing.

"In the time I've been in this role, it's been an absolute privilege."

Wilson was elected as leader during the meeting, which began at 8.30am today.

Her successful leadership challenge makes the former shadow treasurer the first woman to lead the state's Liberal party.

She has been an MP for just three years and was first elected in 2022.

It also makes Wilson Victoria's third Liberal leader in under a year.

If Wilson remains opposition under until November next year, it will be the first time two women are contesting a Victorian state election as leaders.

Wilson told media today it was time the Liberal Party went in a "new direction".

"Today the Liberal Party room spoke very clearly," Wilson said.

"We need to absolutely focus on winning the next election.

"And today, the Liberal Party room spoke and elected me as their leader to take them to the next election, to ensure that when we are getting up and every day focussing on the fact that we need to deliver for the priorities of Victorians."

When probed by reporters, Wilson could not answer why Battin was ousted from the top job.

She repeated that the party room "spoke very, very clearly", adding that the Liberal Party needed to put its best foot forward ahead of the state election next year.

When speaking outside parliament earlier today, Wilson said one of her priorities is to help every Victorian in the state own a home.

She named Victoria's state debt, the ongoing "crime crisis" and healthcare as her three other priorities.

"Victorians have a clear choice," Wilson said.

"A choice between a tired, out-of-touch Labor government or a new generation Liberal team."

In the hours after being confirmed Liberal leader, the Victorian Labor party posted a new political advertisement onto X, which claimed Wilson and the Liberals are "divided on everything except cutting the services Victorians rely on".

Wilson also confirmed outgoing opposition leader Battin would have a role in the shadow ministry going forward.

She described Battin as a "tireless supporter and worker for the Liberals".

He was elected leader of the Victorian Liberals in December 2024 after a similar leadership spill.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/brad-battin-ousted-as-victorian-opposition-leader-in-liberal-leadership-spill/23c1ef10-e828-4ca2-a196-2e793f3fc7e4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ehtKQ2LEk

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Neo-Nazi who rallied outside parliament taken into Villawood detention centre

Michael McGowan and Patrick Begley - November 18, 2025

A neo-Nazi who took part in an anti-Jewish protest outside NSW Parliament has been taken into immigration detention ahead of his looming deportation back to his native South Africa.

At the same time, Australia Post says it is investigating whether one of its employees – a regional delivery manager – was among the 60-odd members of the National Socialist Network involved in the rally.

Matthew Gruter, a civil engineer and senior member of the National Socialist Network, had his visa cancelled by the Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Monday after the Herald revealed the South African native was among the black-clad neo-Nazis who shouted antisemitic slogans at the rally on Saturday, November 8.

Gruter was active on social media accounts linked to the extreme-right group in the early hours of Tuesday morning. In a post written after midnight, Gruter said he would “exhaust all legal options” to avoid returning to his home country.

In a statement published by an NSN-affiliated website, Gruter said Australian Border Force had come to his home early on Tuesday morning and that he had been taken to Villawood detention centre. He said the visa had been cancelled on character grounds.

Burke on Tuesday said he expected Gruter would leave the country “very soon”.

“Most people, once they’re in immigration detention, leave pretty quickly,” he said.

Burke, who in justifying the visa cancellation likened Gruter to an unwelcome house guest, said the neo-Nazis who rallied outside parliament “hate modern Australia”.

“Multicultural Australia and modern Australia are the same thing,” he said.

“Someone who gets involved in neo-Nazism in Australia shouldn’t pretend they’re somehow patriotic. They hate modern Australia.

“My priority is that Australians feel at home, feel safe, that they are safe in Australia. Anyone who wants to stand in the way of that can find the full force of the law coming down on them.”

Burke said the government was “very confident of our position”, noting there were limited avenues to appeal once a minister ordered a visa to be revoked.

Gruter was employed as an engineer in Sydney by multinational firm Aurecon. The company has not responded to multiple requests for comment. He had been in Australia for about three years on a visa.

A public fundraising page set up for Gruter has raised $16,000. “This unjust decision by Tony Burke may be unable to be challenged and the least we can all do is take away from the financial burden on him and the distressing move for him and his young family,” the text on the page said.

Several of the donors’ usernames and messages contained Nazi allusions.

The Herald identified Gruter along with other members of the NSN, after the rally on November 8. One, Alex Volvach, is a Russian-educated contractor with a police-issued licence to install and maintain security devices.

Australia Post said it was investigating the potential involvement of one of its employees “as a priority”.

“Australia Post is investigating a team member’s attendance at a rally in Sydney and will take the appropriate level of action once concluded,” a spokeswoman said.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/neo-nazi-who-rallied-outside-parliament-taken-into-villawood-detention-centre-20251118-p5ngah.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P06yfanYdbs

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US Senate passes bill to release Epstein files in win for defiant Republicans

Brad Ryan - 19 November 2025

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The US Congress has passed legislation to force the public release of documents from the investigation into late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The bill was backed by all senators just hours after a near-unanimous vote in the House of Representatives, and will now go to President Donald Trump for signing.

Only one Republican voted against the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and all Democrats supported it.

Its passage marks a major win for a small group of Republicans who have defied pressure from the Trump White House to drop their crusade for the Epstein files' release.

It also delivers a victory to Epstein's victims, many of whom suspect he had a powerful network of co-conspirators who have long avoided public exposure and punishment.

Some House Republicans had said they wanted the bill amended by the Senate before its passage.

House Leader Mike Johnson was among those who voted for the bill but said it needed changes to protect "innocent people" named in the files.

But the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, used a congressional manoeuvre to have the bill approved by all senators as soon as the paperwork arrived from the House.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told US broadcaster CNN the bill will be sent to Mr Trump for his signature on Wednesday morning, local time.

Trump says he will sign Epstein files bill

If it becomes law, the bill will compel the US Department of Justice to publish all unclassified documents relating to its investigation and prosecution of Epstein and his co-offender Ghislaine Maxwell.

Despite the near-unanimous vote, the bill has split Republicans.

Mr Trump fiercely opposed the bill for months, and he labelled longtime ally Marjorie Taylor Greene a "traitor" after she signed a petition supporting it.

On Sunday, local time, he reversed course and told Republicans to vote for the bill so they could move on from the distraction.

Shortly before the House vote, Ms Greene said the Epstein issue had "ripped MAGA apart".

"He called me a traitor for standing with these women and refusing to take my name off the discharge petition," Ms Greene said at a press conference with victims of Epstein.

"Let me tell you what a traitor is. A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves. A patriot is an American that serves the United States of America and Americans like the women standing behind me."

On Monday, Mr Trump said he would sign the bill into law if it passed Congress.

After the House vote, he said he did not care when the Senate passed it.

"I just don't want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the Victories [sic] that we've had," he wrote on social media.

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Trump signs bill authorising release of Epstein files

JOE KELLY - 20 November 2025

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Donald Trump has signed into law legislation giving his Attorney-General Pam Bondi 30 days to make publicly available – and downloadable – the release of the Department of Justice files on convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

The US President revealed the news on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday evening local time and warned the release of the files would “backfire on the Democrats,” accusing his opponents of using the issue to try and distract from his political achievements.

A sudden reversal at the weekend saw Mr Trump shift from opposing the release of the files to encouraging Republicans to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a backflip that saw the bill overwhelmingly pass the House by 427 votes to 1.

Mr Trump said that Epstein, who committed suicide in jail in August 2019 was a “lifelong Democrat” who donated thousands of dollars to Democratic politicians including former president Bill Clinton and his treasury secretary, Larry Summers.

“Democrats have used the ‘Epstein’ issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories,” he posted on Truth Social. “Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!”

The US President also took greater ownership of the decision, arguing that he “asked Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, to pass this Bill in the House and Senate, respectively. Because of this request, the votes were almost unanimous in favour of passage.”

“At my direction, the Department of Justice has already turned over close to fifty thousand pages of documents to Congress. Do not forget — The Biden Administration did not turn over a SINGLE file or page related to Democrat Epstein, nor did they ever even speak about him,” he said.

Speaking earlier in the day, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned: “We are not done,” and argued that it was imperative for the Department of Justice to now release the “full unredacted files.”

“No hiding. No game playing. No covering up,” he said.

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