China & Indo-Pacific

Summaries in reported speech - not a transcript.

• Prime Minister

  Senate · Thursday 13 August 2026 · Jane Hume Liberal

  The member asked why the Prime Minister refused to admit fault regarding his comments about the Japanese Prime Minister, despite video evidence and previous denials of breaking promises on energy bills, superannuation, a...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• Gas Industry

  Senate · Thursday 13 August 2026 · Susan McDonald Nationals

  The member asked why Labor's gas policies were causing Australia to become a less reliable source for Japan to meet its energy requirements and if the Prime Minister accepted that policy uncertainty was giving competitor...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• International Relations: Australia and Japan

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Angus Taylor Liberal

  The member asked why the Prime Minister would not apologise to the Japanese Prime Minister regarding his podcast comments, characterising the refusal as embarrassing behaviour.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• International Relations: Australia and Japan

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Ted O'Brien Liberal

  The member asked if the Prime Minister could assure the House that no official or private correspondence from Japan had been leaked by his office or department, and what steps had been taken to verify this.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• International Relations: Australia and Japan

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Ted O'Brien Liberal

  The member asked if the Prime Minister would follow the example of owning up to mistakes, referencing his previous refusals to apologise to the Japanese Prime Minister.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Prime Minister

  Senate · Tuesday 11 August 2026 · Dave Sharma Liberal

  The senator asked whether the Minister for Foreign Affairs had advised the Prime Minister to apologise to the Japanese Prime Minister for the alleged remarks. He sought confirmation on the diplomatic response to the inci...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• International Relations: Australia and the Indo-Pacific

  Senate · Tuesday 11 August 2026 · Raff Ciccone ALP

  The senator asked the minister to explain the importance of the new treaties for Australia and how ongoing involvement with the Pacific region strengthens Australia's position. He referenced the recent Pacific Islands Fo...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• International Relations: Australia and Japan

  Senate · Tuesday 11 August 2026 · James Paterson Liberal

  The senator asked whether the minister knew how the media obtained the sensitive diplomatic correspondence. He sought an explanation for the breach of confidentiality.

  Answered by Penny Wong

• International Relations: Australia and Japan

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 11 August 2026 · Mary Aldred Liberal

  The member asked whether the Prime Minister would apologize to the Prime Minister of Japan for alleged disrespectful remarks.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• International Relations: Australia and Japan

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 11 August 2026 · Mary Aldred Liberal

  The member asked again whether the Prime Minister would apologize to the Prime Minister of Japan for disrespectful behavior.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Export Finance Australia

  Senate · Thursday 2 July 2026 · Matthew Canavan LNP

  The member asked why the government was financing foreign renewable projects instead of supporting Australian exports and jobs.

  Answered by Katy Gallagher

• Export Finance Australia

  Senate · Thursday 2 July 2026 · Don Farrell ALP

  The member asked how financing Indian renewable projects met the purpose of Export Finance Australia, given the lack of Australian products or jobs involved.

  Answered by Matthew Canavan

• International Relations: Indonesia

  House of Representatives · Monday 9 February 2026 · Alison Byrnes ALP

  The member asked about the outcomes of the Prime Minister's visit to Indonesia and the importance of regional relationships for Australians.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• International Relations: Australia and Indonesia

  House of Representatives · Monday 9 February 2026 · Sam Lim ALP

  The member asked about the importance of the treaty and how it would strengthen Australia's relationship with Indonesia.

  Answered by Richard Marles

• International Relations: Australia and Indonesia

  House of Representatives · Thursday 5 February 2026 · Julie-Ann Campbell ALP

  The member asked about the objectives of the Prime Minister's visit to Indonesia and the importance of regional relationships for Australians.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Renewable Energy

  Senate · Monday 24 November 2025 · Ralph Babet UAP

  The member questioned whether permitting a foreign authoritarian regime to exert control over Australia's vital energy assets served the national interest. He then highlighted SPIC's role in the Belt and Road Initiative,...

  Answered by Tim Ayres

• Climate Change

  Senate · Tuesday 4 November 2025 · Malcolm Roberts One Nation

  The member asked what threats the government had levied against China for increasing coal use. He argued that Australia was sacrificing living standards to satisfy foreign dictates while China expanded coal capacity.

  Answered by Penny Wong

• Regional Security

  Senate · Thursday 30 October 2025 · Leah Blyth Liberal

  The member asked for the government's view on the incident and whether China was still considered a friend. She questioned how Australia was ensuring the safety of its personnel.

  Answered by Don Farrell

• International Relations: Australia and the Indo-Pacific

  Senate · Tuesday 28 October 2025 · Ellie Whiteaker ALP

  The senator asked the minister to outline the government's actions to deepen relationships with regional countries. She subsequently asked how the government is navigating international uncertainty through partnerships, ...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• Climate Change

  Senate · Tuesday 28 October 2025 · Tyron Whitten One Nation

  The senator asked what percentage of global CO2 emissions Australia was responsible for, suggesting it was one per cent. He followed up by asking for the percentage of emissions attributable to China, the USA, and India,...

  Answered by Tim Ayres

• Economy

  House of Representatives · Monday 27 October 2025 · Matt Burnell ALP

  The member asked how the Prime Minister's recent international engagements were creating economic growth and job opportunities for Australians.

  Answered by Richard Marles

• Andrews, Hon. Daniel Michael, AC

  House of Representatives · Thursday 4 September 2025 · Sussan Ley Liberal

  The member asked whether the Prime Minister would join the coalition in condemning the former premier's attendance at the event with dictators and war criminals.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Andrews, Hon. Daniel Michael, AC

  House of Representatives · Thursday 4 September 2025 · Phillip Thompson LNP

  The member asked if the Prime Minister was aware that Daniel Andrews had not disclosed his engagement on the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme register, and if he would write to Andrews seeking compliance.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• International Relations: Australia and China

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 3 September 2025 · Angus Taylor Liberal

  The member asked if the Prime Minister would condemn Daniel Andrews for attending the parade. He also asked if the Prime Minister or his office provided personal or consular assistance for the visit.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• International Relations

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 3 September 2025 · Angus Taylor Liberal

  The member asked if the Prime Minister would condemn Daniel Andrews for attending the parade.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Defence

  Senate · Thursday 31 July 2025 · Jessica Collins Liberal

  The senator asked why the government abandoned its 2022 commitment to raise defence spending targets given the deteriorating strategic environment. She also questioned why the Prime Minister had not attended military exe...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• Darwin Port

  Senate · Tuesday 29 July 2025 · Warwick Stacey One Nation

  The member asked when the Port of Darwin would return to Australian control, given the Prime Minister's recent visit to China. He questioned whether the Prime Minister had raised the issue with Chinese leaders and if the...

  Answered by Penny Wong

• International Relations: Australia and China

  House of Representatives · Thursday 24 July 2025 · Angus Taylor Liberal

  The member asked if the Prime Minister was suggesting that Chinese warships are free to conduct live fire exercises near Australia because Australia participates in the South China Sea.

  Answered by Richard Marles

• Russia: Sanctions

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 23 July 2025 · Andrew Wilkie Ind

  The member asked why sanctions had loopholes allowing Russian-sourced petrol to enter Australia via India, potentially funding the war in Ukraine.

  Answered by Richard Marles

• China

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 23 July 2025 · Matt Gregg ALP

  The member asked how the Prime Minister's recent trip to China helped promote and protect Australian interests.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• International Relations: Australia and China

  House of Representatives · Wednesday 23 July 2025 · Angus Taylor Liberal

  The member asked what assurances the Prime Minister received from the Chinese president that PLA vessels would stop conducting surveillance and live-fire exercises off the Australian coast.

  Answered by Anthony Albanese

• Education Standards

  Senate · Monday 10 February 2025 · Malcolm Roberts One Nation

  The member asked if Indian degrees were given equal merit to Australian degrees and whether the government would verify the legitimacy of qualifications, particularly in health and engineering.

  Answered by Penny Wong

• International Relations: Australia and Japan; Order for the Production of Documents

  Senate · Monday 17 August 2026 · Sean Bell (NSW) (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) One Nation

  Senator Sean Bell moved a motion requiring the Minister representing the Prime Minister to table documents concerning the valuation of four Shizuoka Crown melons received from the Government of Japan. The motion sought s...

• International Relations: Australia and Japan

  Senate · Wednesday 12 August 2026 · Dave Sharma (NSW) (Liberal Party) Liberal

  Senator Dave Sharma moved a matter of public importance criticising the Prime Minister for mocking a diplomatic gift from Japan and refusing to apologise. Opposition senators argued the comments were sexist, disrespectfu...

• Electric Vehicles

  House of Representatives · Monday 22 June 2026 · Alison Byrnes (Cunningham) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  The debate centred on the effectiveness of government measures to increase electric vehicle adoption, with Labor members highlighting significant growth in sales and model availability. Opposition members argued that cur...

• Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security

  Senate · Thursday 14 May 2026 · Penny Wong (SA) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  The Minister for Foreign Affairs tabled the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security, also known as the Jakarta treaty 2026, in the Senate. The minister highlighted the historical depth of the bilateral relationship...

• Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security

  House of Representatives · Monday 2 March 2026 · Luke Gosling (Solomon) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  Members debated a motion affirming the significance of the recently signed Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security. Speakers highlighted the treaty's role in strengthening strategic trust, enhancing regional stabil...

• Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2025-2026; Consideration in Detail

  House of Representatives · Tuesday 7 October 2025 · Sharon Claydon (Newcastle) (Australian Labor Party) ALP

  Members debated the government's funding and policy directions for education, defence, climate adaptation, and regional diplomacy. Government members highlighted investments in public schools, defence capabilities, and I...

• Darwin Port

  Senate · Tuesday 29 July 2025 · Warwick Stacey (NSW) (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) One Nation

  Senator Warwick Stacey moved a motion for the Senate to take note of the Minister for Foreign Affairs' answer regarding the Chinese-controlled Darwin Port. Stacey criticised the Prime Minister for not raising the issue d...

• Education Standards

  Senate · Monday 10 February 2025 · Malcolm Roberts (QLD) (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) One Nation

  Senator Malcolm Roberts moved a motion to take note of the Minister for Foreign Affairs' answer regarding education standards. He criticised the mutual recognition agreement with India, arguing it equated Australian degr...