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9 News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- 9 News
Lehrmann inquiry head's leak was 'transparent, not corrupt', lawyer said
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A former judge's decision to leak confidential material from an inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's criminal prosecution was an attempt at transparency not an act of corruption, his lawyers say. Walter Sofronoff KC has asked the Federal Court to toss a March finding by the ACT Integrity Commission that the former judge engaged in serious corrupt conduct. The commission's probe stemmed from Sofronoff's leaks to a journalist. Walter Sofronoff KC has asked a court to toss out a finding that he engaged in serious corrupt conduct. (Fairfax Media) But the watchdog's adverse finding was a "serious offence against the administration of justice", Sofronoff's barrister Adam Pomerenke KC said during a hearing today. Sofronoff was not corrupt, malicious or dishonest, the barrister told Justice Wendy Abrahams. Rather, he genuinely believed he was acting in the public interest by sending documents like witness statements to the media. "Even if Mr Sofronoff was wrong in his view, the fact remains that he genuinely and honestly held it," Pomerenke said. "At worst it could be characterised as an erroneous attempt to ensure accuracy and transparency in the public discourse." Sofronoff chaired a board of inquiry into the ACT's criminal justice system after Lehrmann's controversy-plagued prosecution. The former Liberal staffer was accused of raping then-colleague Brittany Higgins in a ministerial office at Parliament House in 2019. A 2022 criminal trial was abandoned without a verdict due to juror misconduct. Lehrmann lost a defamation lawsuit he brought over media reporting of Higgins' allegations but has appealed a judge's finding the rape claim was true on the balance of probabilities. The Sofronoff-led inquiry found the ACT's top prosecutor, Shane Drumgold, had lost objectivity over the Lehrmann case and knowingly lied about a note of his meeting with broadcaster Lisa Wilkinson. Drumgold resigned and launched a legal challenge to the findings in the ACT Supreme Court. Former ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold. (Rhett Wyman / SMH) It found the majority of the inquiry's findings were not legally unreasonable, but it struck down an adverse finding about how Drumgold cross-examined then-Liberal senator Linda Reynolds during Lehrmann's criminal trial. In March, the ACT Integrity Commission also found the majority of the inquiry's findings were not legally unreasonable. But it found Sofronoff's behaviour during the inquiry gave rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias and he might have been influenced by the publicly expressed views of journalist Janet Albrechtsen. Sofronoff repeatedly messaged the News Corp columnist and eventually provided her an advance copy of his probe's final report. Pomerenke told the Federal Court today the ACT corruption body had admitted it made an error in finding Sofronoff might have engaged in contempt. The claimed contempt stemmed out of leaks to the media despite directions made to parties during the inquiry to suppress certain documents. But the notion that the head of an inquiry could be in contempt of himself was "absurd and irrational", Pomerenke said. This concession was enough to toss the findings against his client, he told the court. Any individual error could not be "disentangled" from the final finding that the former judge engaged in serious corrupt conduct, the barrister said. Support is available from 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028. courts Bruce Lehrmann Australia national Australian Capital Territory CONTACT US
West Australian
21-07-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Lehrmann inquiry head's leak 'transparent, not corrupt'
A former judge's decision to leak confidential material from an inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's criminal prosecution was an attempt at transparency not an act of corruption, his lawyers say. Walter Sofronoff KC has asked the Federal Court to toss a March finding by the ACT Integrity Commission that the former judge engaged in serious corrupt conduct. The commission's probe stemmed from Mr Sofronoff's leaks to a journalist. But the watchdog's adverse finding was a "serious offence against the administration of justice", Mr Sofronoff's barrister Adam Pomerenke KC said during a hearing on Monday. Mr Sofronoff was not corrupt, malicious or dishonest, the barrister told Justice Wendy Abrahams. Rather, he genuinely believed he was acting in the public interest by sending documents like witness statements to the media. "Even if Mr Sofronoff was wrong in his view, the fact remains that he genuinely and honestly held it," Mr Pomerenke said. "At worst it could be characterised as an erroneous attempt to ensure accuracy and transparency in the public discourse." Mr Sofronoff chaired a board of inquiry into the ACT's criminal justice system after Lehrmann's controversy-plagued prosecution. The former Liberal staffer was accused of raping then-colleague Brittany Higgins in a ministerial office at Parliament House in 2019. A 2022 criminal trial was abandoned without a verdict due to juror misconduct. Lehrmann lost a defamation lawsuit he brought over media reporting of Ms Higgins' allegations but has appealed a judge's finding the rape claim was true on the balance of probabilities. The Sofronoff-led inquiry found the ACT's top prosecutor, Shane Drumgold, had lost objectivity over the Lehrmann case and knowingly lied about a note of his meeting with broadcaster Lisa Wilkinson. Mr Drumgold resigned and launched a legal challenge to the findings in the ACT Supreme Court. It found the majority of the inquiry's findings were not legally unreasonable, but it struck down an adverse finding about how Mr Drumgold cross-examined then-Liberal senator Linda Reynolds during Lehrmann's criminal trial. In March, the ACT Integrity Commission also found the majority of the inquiry's findings were not legally unreasonable. But it found Mr Sofronoff's behaviour during the inquiry gave rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias and he might have been influenced by the publicly expressed views of journalist Janet Albrechtsen. Mr Sofronoff repeatedly messaged the News Corp columnist and eventually provided her an advance copy of his probe's final report. Mr Pomerenke told the Federal Court on Monday the ACT corruption body had admitted it made an error in finding Mr Sofronoff might have engaged in contempt. The claimed contempt stemmed out of leaks to the media despite directions made to parties during the inquiry to suppress certain documents. But the notion that the head of an inquiry could be in contempt of himself was "absurd and irrational", Mr Pomerenke said. This concession was enough to toss the findings against his client, he told the court. Any individual error could not be "disentangled" from the final finding that the former judge engaged in serious corrupt conduct, the barrister said. The hearing continues.
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Lehrmann inquiry head's leak 'transparent, not corrupt'
A former judge's decision to leak confidential material from an inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's criminal prosecution was an attempt at transparency not an act of corruption, his lawyers say. Walter Sofronoff KC has asked the Federal Court to toss a March finding by the ACT Integrity Commission that the former judge engaged in serious corrupt conduct. The commission's probe stemmed from Mr Sofronoff's leaks to a journalist. But the watchdog's adverse finding was a "serious offence against the administration of justice", Mr Sofronoff's barrister Adam Pomerenke KC said during a hearing on Monday. Mr Sofronoff was not corrupt, malicious or dishonest, the barrister told Justice Wendy Abrahams. Rather, he genuinely believed he was acting in the public interest by sending documents like witness statements to the media. "Even if Mr Sofronoff was wrong in his view, the fact remains that he genuinely and honestly held it," Mr Pomerenke said. "At worst it could be characterised as an erroneous attempt to ensure accuracy and transparency in the public discourse." Mr Sofronoff chaired a board of inquiry into the ACT's criminal justice system after Lehrmann's controversy-plagued prosecution. The former Liberal staffer was accused of raping then-colleague Brittany Higgins in a ministerial office at Parliament House in 2019. A 2022 criminal trial was abandoned without a verdict due to juror misconduct. Lehrmann lost a defamation lawsuit he brought over media reporting of Ms Higgins' allegations but has appealed a judge's finding the rape claim was true on the balance of probabilities. The Sofronoff-led inquiry found the ACT's top prosecutor, Shane Drumgold, had lost objectivity over the Lehrmann case and knowingly lied about a note of his meeting with broadcaster Lisa Wilkinson. Mr Drumgold resigned and launched a legal challenge to the findings in the ACT Supreme Court. It found the majority of the inquiry's findings were not legally unreasonable, but it struck down an adverse finding about how Mr Drumgold cross-examined then-Liberal senator Linda Reynolds during Lehrmann's criminal trial. In March, the ACT Integrity Commission also found the majority of the inquiry's findings were not legally unreasonable. But it found Mr Sofronoff's behaviour during the inquiry gave rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias and he might have been influenced by the publicly expressed views of journalist Janet Albrechtsen. Mr Sofronoff repeatedly messaged the News Corp columnist and eventually provided her an advance copy of his probe's final report. Mr Pomerenke told the Federal Court on Monday the ACT corruption body had admitted it made an error in finding Mr Sofronoff might have engaged in contempt. The claimed contempt stemmed out of leaks to the media despite directions made to parties during the inquiry to suppress certain documents. But the notion that the head of an inquiry could be in contempt of himself was "absurd and irrational", Mr Pomerenke said. This concession was enough to toss the findings against his client, he told the court. Any individual error could not be "disentangled" from the final finding that the former judge engaged in serious corrupt conduct, the barrister said. The hearing continues.
Saudi Gazette
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Australia wins landmark climate battle against Indigenous elders
SYDNEY — The Australian government has won a landmark climate case against residents of islands under siege from the impacts of climate change. In 2021, community elders Pabai Pabai and Paul Kabai launched legal action against the then-Liberal government for breaching its duty of care to protect the Torres Strait Islands from the impacts of climate change. But a Federal Court judge dismissed the case and said climate policy was a matter for parliament, not the courts. The ruling also found that the government did not owe a duty of care to protect the islands from the impacts of climate change. The Torres Strait Islands - located between far-north Queensland and Papua New Guinea - are made up of about 270 islands, of which only a few dozen are inhabited. About 4,000 people live on the islands, according to the latest official figures, with 90% identifying as their submission, Uncle Pabai and Uncle Kabai said sea levels in the north of Australia had been rising "significantly higher than the global average".Between 1993 and 2019, sea levels in the Torres Strait rose by about 6 cm per decade, the court was court also heard that the islands are home to a "distinctive customary culture known as Ailan Kastom", where the residents have a "unique spiritual and physical connection" to the islands and case added that by failing to take greater action against climate change in its emissions targets, the islands' unique culture would be lost, and residents would become climate Justice Michael Wigney said that while he recognised the "devastating impact" caused to the islands by climate change, current negligence laws in Australia do not allow for compensation where the loss of culture, customs and traditions were the result of a government's acknowledged that while "climate change related flooding and inundation events had damaged their sacred sites and the burial grounds of their ancestors", matters of "core government policy" such as emissions targets was "ordinarily to be decided through political processes, not by judges".He did however recognise that action was needed: "There could be little, if any, doubt that the Torres Strait Islands and their traditional inhabitants will face a bleak future if urgent action is not taken to address climate change and its impacts."For Uncle Pabai the decision was devastating."My heart is broken for my family and my community," he said in statement according to local media.A map shows the location of The Torres Strait Islands. They are inbetween far-north Queensland - shown on the bottom of the map- and Papua New Guinea, which is at the top of the map. The map shows Thursday Island which is the capital of the Torres Strait islands as well as a few more like Badu, Masig, Erub, Mer, Saibai and his submission to the court, Uncle Pabai - a community leader from Boigu island - described the deep spiritual connection he and other locals have with the land and waters, especially the cemeteries as "talking to my ancestors is a big part of my culture"."If Boigu was gone, or I had to leave it, because it was underwater, I will be nothing," he wrote in his court Paul, the other elder behind the court action, was equally stunned by the findings."I thought that the decision would be in our favour, and I'm in shock," he said."This pain isn't just for me, it's for all people Indigenous and non-Indigenous who have been affected by climate change. What do any of us say to our families now?"During earlier court hearings, Uncle Paul had described his childhood memories of Saibai in the 1970s and 1980s when it was a "land of plenty", with an abundance of barramundi and crabs in inland freshwater now, more extreme weather events and higher sea levels meant an increase in saltwater coming inland, and coupled with less rain, the higher salt levels in the swamps have made it impossible for fish and crabs to survive, he told the court about a seawall - built around 2017 - that was breached by a king tide in 2000, destroying crops and flooding homes."If the water keeps on rising, in the way it has in the last 10 years or so, the seawall will not be able to protect Saibai at all," he said in his submission."My country would disappear. I would lose everything: my home, my community, my culture, my stories, my identity. Without Saibai, I do not know who I would be," the court handing down his decision, Justice Wigney said that while the previous government "paid scant if any regard to the best available science" in setting emissions reductions, the new targets set by Labor were "significantly higher and more ambitious".In a joint statement following the court decision, Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy, said they "understand that the Torres Strait Islands are vulnerable to climate change, and many are already feeling the impacts"."Where the former Government failed on climate change, the Albanese Government is delivering – because it's in the interest of all Australians," the statement Moodley, from the University of NSW's Institute of Climate Risk and Response said while the decision was "definitely a setback" for Torres Strait Islanders, it does not mean the law can not change."The reality is that Australian law will need adapt to meet the challenges of climate change," she told the colleague Wesley Morgan said the court's finding should also propel greater action from government on its climate policies."It must listen to the science telling us we need be ambitious as possible in the decade ahead," he said. — BBC
The Advertiser
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
China wants AI in expanded trade deal with Australia
Strengthening ties between Chinese and Australian artificial intelligence researchers could be on the agenda when the prime minister visits China this week, as Beijing seeks to capitalise on trade tensions with the US. With President Donald Trump's tariffs straining relations with Australia's traditionally closest ally, China's top diplomat in Australia Xiao Qian has called for greater collaboration in fields like AI, healthcare and green energy under a revised free-trade deal between the two nations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China on Saturday comes as the Sino-Australian relationship continues to build following a downturn in relations under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison. "China and Australia are natural partners with complementary economic strengths," Mr Xiao wrote in an opinion piece published in the Australian Financial Review on Monday. "Standing at a new historical starting point, now is the time to advance bilateral relations with steady progress." Trade volumes between the two nations have bounced back after China lifted sanctions on Australian exports. The ambassador believes Mr Albanese's visit marks an opportunity to broaden the terms of the 10-year-old free-trade agreement. "We are willing to review the agreement with a more open attitude and higher standard, further consolidate co-operation in traditional areas such as agriculture and mining, and actively explore new growth areas in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, healthcare, green energy, and the digital economy, elevating practical co-operation to new heights," Mr Xiao wrote. The promotion of AI ties, amid the Albanese government's agenda to boost productivity, follows similar provisions in recently signed trade deals between Australia and partners such as Singapore, the UK and the UAE. These clauses encourage sharing AI research and commercialisation opportunities between the countries, as well as promoting its responsible use. There are attractive opportunities to deepen research collaboration in the fundamental science of AI, even though there are challenges to expanding the use of Chinese AI programs in Australia, said UNSW Professor Toby Walsh. "It's going to be very hard for us to have too deep relationships within terms of AI, because you can touch upon things like data sovereignty and various other things that we value," the AI expert told AAP. "It's not like just sending them gold and they take it, and that's the end of the partnership. "Sharing technologies like AI could pose significant national security and other risks." Allowing Chinese tech companies access to the Australian market has been a sore spot in the bilateral relationship. In 2018, then-Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull banned the Chinese tech giant Huawei from developing 5G infrastructure in Australia over concerns the Chinese government could force the company to hand over Australians' data or interfere with the network. The decision prompted strenuous protests from Beijing and was a factor behind a subsequent diplomatic fallout. Prof Walsh said there were still areas where collaboration could be beneficial without forfeiting Australian security. "It's about exchanging people, it's training, it's us going to work with them and them coming to work with us," he said. "So it's things that we've always done in terms of scientific exchange, supercharging our science, supercharging their science, and then building our own business off the back of that scientific knowledge. "China will be interested in partnering with us. "We have wonderful medical data, and we have a joined-up healthcare system. "There's huge value in those national data sets we have that no one else has." As the US drives a wedge through a fragmenting global order, Mr Xiao framed China as a like-minded partner for Australia - one that shares Australia's interests in pushing back against unilateralism and protectionism. China is willing to work with Australia to strengthen multilateral organisations like the United Nations and ASEAN, safeguard regional peace and the international rules-based order, and advocate for free trade, the ambassador said. Assistant Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government was seeking to strengthen access to China - Australia's largest trading partner - in the best interests of Australians. Strengthening ties between Chinese and Australian artificial intelligence researchers could be on the agenda when the prime minister visits China this week, as Beijing seeks to capitalise on trade tensions with the US. With President Donald Trump's tariffs straining relations with Australia's traditionally closest ally, China's top diplomat in Australia Xiao Qian has called for greater collaboration in fields like AI, healthcare and green energy under a revised free-trade deal between the two nations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China on Saturday comes as the Sino-Australian relationship continues to build following a downturn in relations under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison. "China and Australia are natural partners with complementary economic strengths," Mr Xiao wrote in an opinion piece published in the Australian Financial Review on Monday. "Standing at a new historical starting point, now is the time to advance bilateral relations with steady progress." Trade volumes between the two nations have bounced back after China lifted sanctions on Australian exports. The ambassador believes Mr Albanese's visit marks an opportunity to broaden the terms of the 10-year-old free-trade agreement. "We are willing to review the agreement with a more open attitude and higher standard, further consolidate co-operation in traditional areas such as agriculture and mining, and actively explore new growth areas in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, healthcare, green energy, and the digital economy, elevating practical co-operation to new heights," Mr Xiao wrote. The promotion of AI ties, amid the Albanese government's agenda to boost productivity, follows similar provisions in recently signed trade deals between Australia and partners such as Singapore, the UK and the UAE. These clauses encourage sharing AI research and commercialisation opportunities between the countries, as well as promoting its responsible use. There are attractive opportunities to deepen research collaboration in the fundamental science of AI, even though there are challenges to expanding the use of Chinese AI programs in Australia, said UNSW Professor Toby Walsh. "It's going to be very hard for us to have too deep relationships within terms of AI, because you can touch upon things like data sovereignty and various other things that we value," the AI expert told AAP. "It's not like just sending them gold and they take it, and that's the end of the partnership. "Sharing technologies like AI could pose significant national security and other risks." Allowing Chinese tech companies access to the Australian market has been a sore spot in the bilateral relationship. In 2018, then-Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull banned the Chinese tech giant Huawei from developing 5G infrastructure in Australia over concerns the Chinese government could force the company to hand over Australians' data or interfere with the network. The decision prompted strenuous protests from Beijing and was a factor behind a subsequent diplomatic fallout. Prof Walsh said there were still areas where collaboration could be beneficial without forfeiting Australian security. "It's about exchanging people, it's training, it's us going to work with them and them coming to work with us," he said. "So it's things that we've always done in terms of scientific exchange, supercharging our science, supercharging their science, and then building our own business off the back of that scientific knowledge. "China will be interested in partnering with us. "We have wonderful medical data, and we have a joined-up healthcare system. "There's huge value in those national data sets we have that no one else has." As the US drives a wedge through a fragmenting global order, Mr Xiao framed China as a like-minded partner for Australia - one that shares Australia's interests in pushing back against unilateralism and protectionism. China is willing to work with Australia to strengthen multilateral organisations like the United Nations and ASEAN, safeguard regional peace and the international rules-based order, and advocate for free trade, the ambassador said. Assistant Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government was seeking to strengthen access to China - Australia's largest trading partner - in the best interests of Australians. Strengthening ties between Chinese and Australian artificial intelligence researchers could be on the agenda when the prime minister visits China this week, as Beijing seeks to capitalise on trade tensions with the US. With President Donald Trump's tariffs straining relations with Australia's traditionally closest ally, China's top diplomat in Australia Xiao Qian has called for greater collaboration in fields like AI, healthcare and green energy under a revised free-trade deal between the two nations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China on Saturday comes as the Sino-Australian relationship continues to build following a downturn in relations under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison. "China and Australia are natural partners with complementary economic strengths," Mr Xiao wrote in an opinion piece published in the Australian Financial Review on Monday. "Standing at a new historical starting point, now is the time to advance bilateral relations with steady progress." Trade volumes between the two nations have bounced back after China lifted sanctions on Australian exports. The ambassador believes Mr Albanese's visit marks an opportunity to broaden the terms of the 10-year-old free-trade agreement. "We are willing to review the agreement with a more open attitude and higher standard, further consolidate co-operation in traditional areas such as agriculture and mining, and actively explore new growth areas in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, healthcare, green energy, and the digital economy, elevating practical co-operation to new heights," Mr Xiao wrote. The promotion of AI ties, amid the Albanese government's agenda to boost productivity, follows similar provisions in recently signed trade deals between Australia and partners such as Singapore, the UK and the UAE. These clauses encourage sharing AI research and commercialisation opportunities between the countries, as well as promoting its responsible use. There are attractive opportunities to deepen research collaboration in the fundamental science of AI, even though there are challenges to expanding the use of Chinese AI programs in Australia, said UNSW Professor Toby Walsh. "It's going to be very hard for us to have too deep relationships within terms of AI, because you can touch upon things like data sovereignty and various other things that we value," the AI expert told AAP. "It's not like just sending them gold and they take it, and that's the end of the partnership. "Sharing technologies like AI could pose significant national security and other risks." Allowing Chinese tech companies access to the Australian market has been a sore spot in the bilateral relationship. In 2018, then-Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull banned the Chinese tech giant Huawei from developing 5G infrastructure in Australia over concerns the Chinese government could force the company to hand over Australians' data or interfere with the network. The decision prompted strenuous protests from Beijing and was a factor behind a subsequent diplomatic fallout. Prof Walsh said there were still areas where collaboration could be beneficial without forfeiting Australian security. "It's about exchanging people, it's training, it's us going to work with them and them coming to work with us," he said. "So it's things that we've always done in terms of scientific exchange, supercharging our science, supercharging their science, and then building our own business off the back of that scientific knowledge. "China will be interested in partnering with us. "We have wonderful medical data, and we have a joined-up healthcare system. "There's huge value in those national data sets we have that no one else has." As the US drives a wedge through a fragmenting global order, Mr Xiao framed China as a like-minded partner for Australia - one that shares Australia's interests in pushing back against unilateralism and protectionism. China is willing to work with Australia to strengthen multilateral organisations like the United Nations and ASEAN, safeguard regional peace and the international rules-based order, and advocate for free trade, the ambassador said. Assistant Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government was seeking to strengthen access to China - Australia's largest trading partner - in the best interests of Australians. Strengthening ties between Chinese and Australian artificial intelligence researchers could be on the agenda when the prime minister visits China this week, as Beijing seeks to capitalise on trade tensions with the US. With President Donald Trump's tariffs straining relations with Australia's traditionally closest ally, China's top diplomat in Australia Xiao Qian has called for greater collaboration in fields like AI, healthcare and green energy under a revised free-trade deal between the two nations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China on Saturday comes as the Sino-Australian relationship continues to build following a downturn in relations under former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison. "China and Australia are natural partners with complementary economic strengths," Mr Xiao wrote in an opinion piece published in the Australian Financial Review on Monday. "Standing at a new historical starting point, now is the time to advance bilateral relations with steady progress." Trade volumes between the two nations have bounced back after China lifted sanctions on Australian exports. The ambassador believes Mr Albanese's visit marks an opportunity to broaden the terms of the 10-year-old free-trade agreement. "We are willing to review the agreement with a more open attitude and higher standard, further consolidate co-operation in traditional areas such as agriculture and mining, and actively explore new growth areas in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, healthcare, green energy, and the digital economy, elevating practical co-operation to new heights," Mr Xiao wrote. The promotion of AI ties, amid the Albanese government's agenda to boost productivity, follows similar provisions in recently signed trade deals between Australia and partners such as Singapore, the UK and the UAE. These clauses encourage sharing AI research and commercialisation opportunities between the countries, as well as promoting its responsible use. There are attractive opportunities to deepen research collaboration in the fundamental science of AI, even though there are challenges to expanding the use of Chinese AI programs in Australia, said UNSW Professor Toby Walsh. "It's going to be very hard for us to have too deep relationships within terms of AI, because you can touch upon things like data sovereignty and various other things that we value," the AI expert told AAP. "It's not like just sending them gold and they take it, and that's the end of the partnership. "Sharing technologies like AI could pose significant national security and other risks." Allowing Chinese tech companies access to the Australian market has been a sore spot in the bilateral relationship. In 2018, then-Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull banned the Chinese tech giant Huawei from developing 5G infrastructure in Australia over concerns the Chinese government could force the company to hand over Australians' data or interfere with the network. The decision prompted strenuous protests from Beijing and was a factor behind a subsequent diplomatic fallout. Prof Walsh said there were still areas where collaboration could be beneficial without forfeiting Australian security. "It's about exchanging people, it's training, it's us going to work with them and them coming to work with us," he said. "So it's things that we've always done in terms of scientific exchange, supercharging our science, supercharging their science, and then building our own business off the back of that scientific knowledge. "China will be interested in partnering with us. "We have wonderful medical data, and we have a joined-up healthcare system. "There's huge value in those national data sets we have that no one else has." As the US drives a wedge through a fragmenting global order, Mr Xiao framed China as a like-minded partner for Australia - one that shares Australia's interests in pushing back against unilateralism and protectionism. China is willing to work with Australia to strengthen multilateral organisations like the United Nations and ASEAN, safeguard regional peace and the international rules-based order, and advocate for free trade, the ambassador said. Assistant Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government was seeking to strengthen access to China - Australia's largest trading partner - in the best interests of Australians.
