Latest news with #parliamentarian
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hong Kong democracy activist granted asylum after fleeing to Australia
Australia has granted asylum to Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui, he said in a social media post, a move likely to raise tensions with China. Mr Hui, a former Hong Kong parliamentarian, fled the city four years ago and first arrived in Europe in December 2020. In March 2021, he became the first Hong Kong politician to be granted a special travel exemption during coronavirus restrictions to enter Australia. In 2022, Mr Hui was convicted in Hong Kong in his absence on charges of taking part in a pro-democracy protest and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail. On Saturday, Mr Hui said he had 'received formal notification from the Australian Department of Home Affairs that I have been granted asylum in Australia'. In an emotional post, he said: 'When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his hometown?" "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; Exiles have no home." Mr Hui, who is now an Adelaide-based lawyer, said he identifies more closely with Australia today than he did when he arrived four years ago, and said he 'believe[s] asylum also carries responsibility'. 'My family and I are determined to give back to Australia in every way we can—through our work, our civic engagement, and our commitment to the values of democracy and freedom,' he said. The Australian government's 'decision reflects values of freedom, justice, and compassion that my family will never take for granted,' he added. The 42-year-old father, a prominent critic of both the Hong Kong government and Beijing, was one of several overseas activists hit with Hong Kong police bounties of HK$1m (about £94,281) each in 2023. While these bounties have drawn condemnation from Western governments, they are largely viewed as symbolic gestures, since most of those targeted live in countries with little prospect of extradition to Hong Kong or mainland China. In Adelaide, where Mr Hui is based, the campaign against him has taken a more personal turn. Earlier this year, his colleagues received an anonymous letter offering $203,000 Australian dollars for information about his movements and family. Around the same time, fake pamphlets portraying Mr Hui as a pro-Israel lawyer bent on 'waging war' against Islamic terrorism were reportedly circulated to local mosques, apparently in an effort to threaten and discredit him. At that time, Mr Hui blamed 'the Chinese regime's long arm' for harassing him internationally. Mr Hui concluded his post by requesting the Australian government not to forget those still suffering in Hong Kong's prisons, mentioning a number of activists including Jimmy Lai, the media mogul and British citizen who is currently on trial in the city. 'Australia must do more to rescue them and to speak up for their humanity,' Mr Hui said. 'Its stance matters internationally, and its protection of Hongkongers sets a precedent for other democracies.' The Hong Kong government said in a statement that it was 'against the harbouring of criminals in any form by any country'. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing last month as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China, Australia's number one export market. The relationship suffered a number of blows during the pandemic as both countries hit each other with punitive trade tariffs. During the visit, Xi Jinping said the China-Australia relationship 'has risen from the setbacks and turned around, bringing tangible benefits to the Chinese and Australian peoples'.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Hong Kong democracy activist granted asylum after fleeing to Australia
Australia has granted asylum to Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui, he said in a social media post, a move likely to raise tensions with China. Mr Hui, a former Hong Kong parliamentarian, fled the city four years ago and first arrived in Europe in December 2020. In March 2021, he became the first Hong Kong politician to be granted a special travel exemption during coronavirus restrictions to enter Australia. In 2022, Mr Hui was convicted in Hong Kong in his absence on charges of taking part in a pro-democracy protest and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail. On Saturday, Mr Hui said he had 'received formal notification from the Australian Department of Home Affairs that I have been granted asylum in Australia'. In an emotional post, he said: 'When people around me say 'congratulations' to me, although I politely thank them, I can't help but feel sad in my heart. How to congratulate a political refugee who misses his hometown?" "If it weren't for political persecution, I would never have thought of living in a foreign land. Immigrants can always return to their home towns to visit relatives at any time; Exiles have no home." Mr Hui, who is now an Adelaide-based lawyer, said he identifies more closely with Australia today than he did when he arrived four years ago, and said he 'believe[s] asylum also carries responsibility'. 'My family and I are determined to give back to Australia in every way we can—through our work, our civic engagement, and our commitment to the values of democracy and freedom,' he said. The Australian government's 'decision reflects values of freedom, justice, and compassion that my family will never take for granted,' he added. The 42-year-old father, a prominent critic of both the Hong Kong government and Beijing, was one of several overseas activists hit with Hong Kong police bounties of HK$1m (about £94,281) each in 2023. While these bounties have drawn condemnation from Western governments, they are largely viewed as symbolic gestures, since most of those targeted live in countries with little prospect of extradition to Hong Kong or mainland China. In Adelaide, where Mr Hui is based, the campaign against him has taken a more personal turn. Earlier this year, his colleagues received an anonymous letter offering $203,000 Australian dollars for information about his movements and family. Around the same time, fake pamphlets portraying Mr Hui as a pro-Israel lawyer bent on 'waging war' against Islamic terrorism were reportedly circulated to local mosques, apparently in an effort to threaten and discredit him. At that time, Mr Hui blamed 'the Chinese regime's long arm' for harassing him internationally. Mr Hui concluded his post by requesting the Australian government not to forget those still suffering in Hong Kong's prisons, mentioning a number of activists including Jimmy Lai, the media mogul and British citizen who is currently on trial in the city. 'Australia must do more to rescue them and to speak up for their humanity,' Mr Hui said. 'Its stance matters internationally, and its protection of Hongkongers sets a precedent for other democracies.' The Hong Kong government said in a statement that it was 'against the harbouring of criminals in any form by any country'. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing last month as part of his administration's years-long push to improve ties with China, Australia's number one export market. The relationship suffered a number of blows during the pandemic as both countries hit each other with punitive trade tariffs. During the visit, Xi Jinping said the China-Australia relationship 'has risen from the setbacks and turned around, bringing tangible benefits to the Chinese and Australian peoples'.
Fox News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Rep. Steube slams Senate parliamentarian for gutting Trump's legislative agenda
An unelected Senate parliamentarian should not be deciding what stays and what doesn't in the so-called "Big, Beautiful Bill," Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., told Fox News Channel in an interview that earned President Trump's approval. Conservatives were furious on Thursday morning after learning Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled several key reforms and tweaks to Medicaid in the Senate GOP's version of President Trump's bill did not pass muster with Senate Rules. One senator, Roger Marshall, of Kansas, called for MacDonough to be replaced. Steube was a guest on FOX Report on Sunday morning, when host Jon Scott asked him where he stood on whether the parliamentarian should have been overruled or even fired. He agreed with Marshall. "Yeah, I had called for her to be fired," Steube said. "I don't think that one person who's unelected, who got appointed over a decade ago, should be the one deciding what stays in and what doesn't." Lawmakers across the U.S. were elected by their constituents to make those decisions; not the parliamentarians, he said. At the moment, Republicans hold majorities in the House and the Senate. MacDonough was appointed by the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who was a Democrat. Steube questioned why current Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., would not replace MacDonough with a Republican appointee. "We've certainly called for that," Steube said. "Thune has said he's not going to do that, so they're going to move forward." Scott noted that MacDonough has said she is supposed to be call balls and strikes, not make political decisions. When Scott asked Steube if he thought MacDonough was working for the Democrats, the lawmaker noted she was appointed by one. "What House lawmakers that have been elected by the people passed by a majority of the House of Representatives and sent over to the Senate are now getting struck by one person who was appointed by Harry Reid," Steube said. "I certainly don't think that's what the American people voted for. Trump later posted about Steube's interview on Truth Social. "Great Congressman Greg Steube is 100% correct," the president wrote. "An unelected Senate Staffer (Parliamentarian), should not be allowed to hurt the Republicans Bill. Wants many fantastic things out. NO!"
Bloomberg
27-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Gun, Silencer Provisions Blocked From Trump Tax Bill in Senate
Senate Republicans' effort to use President Donald Trump's massive tax bill to eliminate regulations on short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and silencers has hit a roadblock with the chamber's ruleskeeper. The Senate parliamentarian decided the policy provisions violate the fast-track budget rules Republicans are using to avoid a filibuster and pass Trump's legislative agenda with only GOP support.
Fox News
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
GOP senator calls for parliamentarian's firing after serving Medicaid blow to Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican wants to see the Senate parliamentarian fired and plans to introduce a resolution that would require the position to be term-limited. Fury erupted among conservatives Thursday morning following the news that Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled several key reforms and tweaks to Medicaid in the Senate GOP's version of President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" did not pass muster with Senate rules. That means that the current provisions that do not comply with the Byrd Rule must be stripped, but Republicans can still scramble to rewrite and resubmit the policy to the parliamentarian. However, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., wants immediate action taken against the parliamentarian. "In 2001, Majority Leader Trent Lott fired the Senate parliamentarian during reconciliation," Marshall told Fox News Digital. "It's 2025 during reconciliation, and we need to again fire the Senate parliamentarian." He argued that, based upon early reports, the parliamentarian's rulings against myriad provisions in the bill may erase up to $500 billion in spending cuts, which could hamper the bill's survival among fiscal hawks and miss the goal of hitting up to $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has made clear that he did not intend to overrule the parliamentarian. Fox News Digital reached out to the top Senate Republican for comment. Marshall, like other congressional Republicans, was particularly incensed over the parliamentarian's rulings that gutted numerous changes Senate Republicans made to the widely-used Medicaid program that triggered conservatives. Among the axed provisions was the Senate GOP's harsher crackdown on the Medicaid provider rate, or the amount that state Medicaid programs pay to providers on behalf of Medicaid beneficiaries, which proved a divisive policy among some in the conference. Other provisions that were nixed included denying states Medicaid funding for having illegal immigrants on the benefit rolls, preventing illegal immigrants from participating in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and preventing Medicaid and CHIP funding from going toward gender-affirming care. Republicans viewed those as key cost-saving changes, and their removal has likely set back their plan to put the mammoth bill on Trump's desk by July 4. The parliamentarian is chosen by the Senate majority leader and serves without term limits in the role. Marshall wants to put an end to that practice and plans to introduce a resolution on Thursday that would only be allowed to serve one, six-year term. "The current parliamentarian has been in office since 2012, appointed by Harry Reid," Marshall said. "This is NOT an elected position. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Term limits on a person with this absolute power need be implemented."
