Australian foreign policy

Penny Wong and Richard Marles to head to France in effort to heal Aukus rift

Australia’s foreign and defence ministers to join French counterparts for ‘2+2’ meeting, the first since relations cooled in 2021 over pact with US and UK

Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

24, Jan, 2023 @3:52 AM

‘Red flags’ raised over scheme to allow families of Pacific Island workers to join them in Australia

Families who relocate under federal scheme would not have access to Medicare, or relocation or housing costs, making move unviable for many, experts warn

Jordyn Beazley

22, Jan, 2023 @2:00 PM

In from the cold? Australia and China eye first meeting of trade ministers in more than three years

Officials move towards virtual chat as Don Farrell pursues removal of hefty tariffs on Australian produce

Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

19, Jan, 2023 @2:00 PM

Australian officials warned in 2021 about possible recruitment of ex-ADF members by Chinese military

Unclear what action, if any, then defence minister Peter Dutton took at the time

Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

16, Jan, 2023 @2:00 PM

NSW MP to contest election despite husband’s death – as it happened

This blog is now closed

Josh Taylor and Rafqa Touma (earlier)

16, Jan, 2023 @7:27 AM

Australia and Papua New Guinea pledge new security pact saying interests are ‘intertwined’

In contrast with security deal between China and Solomon Islands, the Australia-PNG agreement will be ‘public and transparent’, prime ministers vow

Rebecca Kuku in Port Moresby, Kate Lyons and Daniel Hurst

12, Jan, 2023 @8:23 AM

Australia’s credibility on human rights blighted by laws targeting climate protesters and jailing children, report says

Human Rights Watch calls on government to address its own ‘alarming deficiencies’, including detention of children under 14 and treatment of asylum seekers

Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

12, Jan, 2023 @3:15 AM

Anthony Albanese to push ‘family-first’ security treaty in address to Papua New Guinea parliament

Australian PM to call for ‘a swift conclusion to negotiations’ to treaty and say both countries should ‘work as equals with our fellow Pacific states’

Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

11, Jan, 2023 @11:30 AM

US senators urge Joe Biden not to sell ‘scarce’ nuclear submarines to Australia

Democrat and Republican lawmakers reportedly warned president that Aukus security pact could stress US submarine industrial base ‘to breaking point’

Paul Karp

06, Jan, 2023 @5:51 AM

Lifesavers rescue 1,200 over holiday period in Australia – as it happened

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Tory Shepherd (now) and Mostafa Rachwani (earlier)

05, Jan, 2023 @7:14 AM

Australian defence force to spend $1bn acquiring naval strike missiles and army rocket systems

Government says purchase of truck-mounted rockets ‘largest expansion of army strike capability in living memory’ with range extended from 50km to 300km

Paul Karp

04, Jan, 2023 @2:00 PM