Penny Wong
PM urges Australians to leave Lebanon due to ‘real risk of escalation’
After the deaths of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, it’s thought conflict in the region could heighten amid retaliatory strikes.
- by Olivia Ireland and Josefine Ganko
Latest
Wong says ‘rules are being bent, twisted and broken’ but avoids naming China as key actor
Australia US, India and Japan have called out Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea and cyber espionage but stopped short of naming China directly.
- by Lisa Visentin
Exclusive
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Greens staff lead Palestine protest movement, voice support for vandalism of Jewish MP’s office
Social media posts by taxpayer-funded staffers also reveal support for “armed resistance”, offering a glimpse into the connection between the party and the wave of demonstrations since October 7.
- by Paul Sakkal
Labor ‘breaks taboo’ to sanction Israelis after months of pressure
Joining the US and UK in targeting Israeli settlers, Penny Wong said the individuals had been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians, including beatings, sexual assault and torture.
- by Paul Sakkal and Olivia Ireland
Exclusive
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Labor works to cool fear of Israel-Lebanon war as Wong lambasts Israel
As Israel’s parliament voted overwhelmingly against Palestinian statehood, Wong used some of her strongest language to date to condemn Israeli Defence Force strikes.
- by Paul Sakkal
The five names that shrouded a terrible anniversary
At a service to mark the 10th anniversary of the shooting down of flight MH17, five names hung over those in attendance.
- by Shane Wright
Higgins ‘steadfast in truth’ after Reynolds alleges plan to damage her career
The former defence industry minister is suing Brittany Higgins for defamation over July 2023 social media posts.
- by Angus Thompson
Australia takes rare step of blaming China for backing cyberattacks
It is the first time Australian agencies have taken the lead in attributing cyberattacks to hacking group APT40 and naming the Ministry of State Security as a sponsor of the operations.
- by David Crowe
Embattled MP slams Muslim Vote claim that Labor’s ‘weak on Palestine’
Labor’s Peter Khalil has become the first MP to push back against claims made by a burgeoning pro-Palestinian political movement aiming to unseat Labor politicians.
- by Paul Sakkal
Exclusive
Foreign relations
Australian woman’s fury at DFAT over husband’s 1000 days in Iraqi jail
Desree Pether says “the living hell” of the three years since her husband was arrested is made worse by DFAT’s “quiet diplomacy” policies.
- by Olivia Ireland
Exclusive
Abducted in Japan
‘Heartbreaking’: Penny Wong condemns abduction of Australian children in Japan
Parents warn Tokyo’s two-year delay in implementing new laws could trigger a “dash to the finish line” to abduct more children.
- by Eryk Bagshaw and Natalie Clancy