Latest news with #Albanese
Sydney Morning Herald
35 minutes ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Whitlam, Nixon, Albanese: PM uses Great Wall to place himself in history
China has failed to democratise in the way many in the West had hoped in Whitlam's time. Albanese admitted he was dealing with a different beast, but said the best way to manage differences was to build as much trust as realistically possible. Loading 'We don't shout with a megaphone,' he remarked, referring to his predecessor Scott Morrison's confrontational diplomatic style that drew China's ire. If chumminess is the name of the game, China knew which buttons to press when Albanese came to town. The pub-rock-loving PM was treated to Chinese covers of Powderfinger, Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil at dinner in Beijing's Great Hall on Tuesday. Power and the Passion was the Oils' song played, according to Albanese. The lyrics from the activist band's hit are pro-Whitlam and make jabs at 'Uncle Sam' and the Pine Gap intelligence facility – all made in the context of paranoia around the US' role in Whitlam's 1975 dismissal. Albanese and Xi were splashed on page one of the China Daily, a state media publication. Russia's foreign minister, who met Xi on the same day as the PM, was relegated to page three despite Russia's 'no limits' relationship with China. 'They did the full kit and caboodle. And so, it was a splendid occasion,' Albanese said. It's hard to see how China's wooing of Albanese makes ambassador Kevin Rudd's job any easier in Washington as he works to preserve the AUKUS pact in talks with the China hawks in the Trump administration. The Great Wall, usually jammed with tourists, was cleared for Albanese's visit. Freeways across Shanghai and Beijing were also closed off for the prime minister's motorcades, with Australian flags lining the streets. Loading After a short press conference – decked in his Rabbitohs cap and tennis shoes – Albanese went for a walk up the wall with a tour guide and his fiancee Jodie Haydon. Once the money shot was in view, he took off his Ray-Bans, asked the guide and translator to move aside, shooed reporters and assorted hangers-on out of the way, cleared the path ahead of him for what he clearly expects will become an iconic photo in the same stretch of the wall as Whitlam. Even while feeling the weight of history, Albanese had his nuptials on his mind after photographers captured the scenic shot. 'Anyone here a celebrant?' he asked with a smirk.
The Age
35 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Age
Whitlam, Nixon, Albanese: PM uses Great Wall to place himself in history
China has failed to democratise in the way many in the West had hoped in Whitlam's time. Albanese admitted he was dealing with a different beast, but said the best way to manage differences was to build as much trust as realistically possible. Loading 'We don't shout with a megaphone,' he remarked, referring to his predecessor Scott Morrison's confrontational diplomatic style that drew China's ire. If chumminess is the name of the game, China knew which buttons to press when Albanese came to town. The pub-rock-loving PM was treated to Chinese covers of Powderfinger, Paul Kelly and Midnight Oil at dinner in Beijing's Great Hall on Tuesday. Power and the Passion was the Oils' song played, according to Albanese. The lyrics from the activist band's hit are pro-Whitlam and make jabs at 'Uncle Sam' and the Pine Gap intelligence facility – all made in the context of paranoia around the US' role in Whitlam's 1975 dismissal. Albanese and Xi were splashed on page one of the China Daily, a state media publication. Russia's foreign minister, who met Xi on the same day as the PM, was relegated to page three despite Russia's 'no limits' relationship with China. 'They did the full kit and caboodle. And so, it was a splendid occasion,' Albanese said. It's hard to see how China's wooing of Albanese makes ambassador Kevin Rudd's job any easier in Washington as he works to preserve the AUKUS pact in talks with the China hawks in the Trump administration. The Great Wall, usually jammed with tourists, was cleared for Albanese's visit. Freeways across Shanghai and Beijing were also closed off for the prime minister's motorcades, with Australian flags lining the streets. Loading After a short press conference – decked in his Rabbitohs cap and tennis shoes – Albanese went for a walk up the wall with a tour guide and his fiancee Jodie Haydon. Once the money shot was in view, he took off his Ray-Bans, asked the guide and translator to move aside, shooed reporters and assorted hangers-on out of the way, cleared the path ahead of him for what he clearly expects will become an iconic photo in the same stretch of the wall as Whitlam. Even while feeling the weight of history, Albanese had his nuptials on his mind after photographers captured the scenic shot. 'Anyone here a celebrant?' he asked with a smirk.
The National
an hour ago
- Politics
- The National
Twenty-one die after gas firing at Gaza aid distribution point
Albanese urges countries to cut all ties with Israel over Gaza war Israeli army again orders forcible eviction of displaced Palestinians Israeli minister calls for 'elimination' of Syrian President At least 58,479 Palestinians killed and 139,355 wounded since Gaza war began
Reuters
an hour ago
- Business
- Reuters
Australia PM Albanese, at Great Wall, defends foreign investment screening
SYDNEY, July 16 (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday his government's screening of foreign investment was not country-specific, after Chinese Premier Li Qiang raised "problems" faced by Chinese companies seeking access to Australia. On the fifth day of a China visit where the Australian leader is balancing trade and security, Albanese visited the Great Wall to draw a comparison with former prime minister Gough Whitlam who walked the wall in 1971, opening dialogue with communist China before Australia's ally the United States had done so. "Foreign investment is viewed not on the basis of any one country but on the basis of an objective assessment of our national interest," he told reporters during the visit on Wednesday. At a roundtable of Chinese and Australian company executives on Tuesday evening, Li had said he hoped Australia would "solve the problems encountered by enterprises in terms of market access and investment review", a readout of the meeting by Chinese state media outlet Xinhua showed. Australia has blocked some Chinese investments in critical minerals, and company executives have told Reuters that security screening of renewable energy and key infrastructure has also stepped up. Australia supplies around half of the world's lithium as well as other minerals including rare earths used in batteries for electric cars and defence, and is seeking to boost trade with the U.S. amid a global push to diversify supply chains away from dominant producer China. Albanese said on Wednesday that it was in Australia's interest to have a positive relationship with China and not be defined by differences. To underline the point, Albanese said he was following in the footsteps of the Labor leader Whitlam, who made "a decision that took courage" to visit and recognise the People's Republic of China in a changing world. "It's important that we build stability and security in our world, and part of that has to be positive engagement," he added.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Wake up to ourselves': Pauline Hanson issues grave warning over immigration
One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has criticised the Albanese government's policy to bring 'more and more people' into the country. 'I'm not against immigration, but you have got to do it in a managed way,' Ms Hanson told Sky News host Chris Kenny. 'If we don't wake up to ourselves, we are becoming more like England; we are not that far behind them and other countries around the world. 'I fear for the future generations of this nation, the way we are going.'
