‘Ham-fisted, clumsy’: Albanese breaks silence on Chinese officials blocking Cheng Lei

Cheng was released from a Chinese prison in October last year, after being detained in August 2020 at the height of tensions between Australia and China over human rights, trade disputes and COVID.

During Monday’s signing ceremony between Albanese and Li, a Chinese official named Thomas and a female colleague tried to ensure Cheng would not feature in any footage or photographs of the event – including that captured by Chinese state-owned media outlets.

Public servants from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet tried to move Thomas, but he remained in place.

Albanese was on Tuesday accompanying Li for the final day of his visit in Perth. Li’s travel was intended to highlight the improvement of ties between China and Australia over recent years, after relations plummeted in the final years of the previous Coalition government.

Dutton told a press conference on Tuesday afternoon that he had met with the Chinese premier on Monday and raised Cheng’s treatment. The opposition leader said he was pleased that the Australian government had complained to the Chinese embassy about the incident, which he said was “completely unacceptable”.

“I do want to point out that the prime minister clearly misled the Australian people yesterday, when he got up and did a press conference and said that he heard nothing of it, he didn’t understand what the question was, or didn’t know anything about it. It’s completely inconceivable,” he said.

“The prime minister needs to stand up today to explain the discrepancy, explain why he didn’t tell the truth yesterday and, please, grow a backbone and stand up for our country.”

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson had previously said Chinese officials showed “incredible disrespect to us and our customs and norms to treat a journalist in that way”.

“I think nothing less than an apology is owed from the Chinese delegation,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 on Monday night.

Comment has been sought from the Chinese embassy about the incident and whether they would apologise to their Australian counterparts.

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Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham accused Albanese of being “quite pathetic” by not addressing the matter on Monday.

“This was an entirely counterproductive and inappropriate act by Chinese officials. It should have been called out by our prime minister and government officials had the good sense to try to step in,” he told Sky News on Tuesday morning.

“It is a reminder that we have two very different systems, the Chinese system and the Australian system … Yesterday’s events took place at Australia’s Parliament House, and the freedom of the press there is paramount. Cheng Lei is an Australian citizen and Australian journalist, she should have been treated with respect.”

Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie also criticised the prime minister’s initial response, describing it as weak. “For the prime minister to say he didn’t know anything about it shows just how weak he is. He’s either not being upfront or he’s got an incompetent office,” she told Nine’s Today program.

Also speaking on the program, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth defended Albanese and criticised McKenzie for politicising the situation. “Why would you make it so political Bridget?” Rishworth said.

“Of course, we expect appropriate behaviour when it comes to the freedom of journalists and the freedom of the press.”

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