TOPIC

/ people

Penny Wong

(黃英賢)

Penny Wong

黃英賢

The latest news and top stories on Penny Wong, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs since May 2022. She has a background in law and previously held portfolios including Minister for Climate Change and Water, and Minister for Finance and Deregulation.

Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell attends a press conference following a meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in May 2023, in Beijing. Photo:

China exports

Australian trade minister to visit China to secure fuel during Iran war crunch

Beijing tightened jet fuel exports after the war broke out, forcing Canberra to seek alternative suppliers.

15 May 2026 - 6:20PMvideocam

China-Australia relations

Why China’s jet fuel deal with Australia underscores Canberra’s balancing act

30 Apr 2026 - 7:32PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump, Putin talk Iran and Ukraine, US energy exports up: what happened overnight

30 Apr 2026 - 12:09PMvideocam

Pacific nations

Pacific Islanders skip food, medicine amid global fuel shortage from Iran war

Pacific nations are the most reliant on diesel for power generation worldwide. They imported about 2.2 million tonnes of fuel in 2025.

22 Apr 2026 - 9:37AM

Boats ply the waterway in Buka, Papua New Guinea. Many Pacific Island communities rely on boat transport for movement. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

Australia pledges US$1.7 million in aid after Cyclone Maila kills 11 in Pacific

Entire villages were destroyed in the storm, was briefly classified as a Category 5 cyclone.

13 Apr 2026 - 1:26PM

Hong Kong national security law

Hong Kong court dismisses appeals of 12 activists over landmark subversion case

Court also upholds acquittal of Lawrence Lau Wai-chung, with Department of Justice to consider appealing ruling.

24 Feb 2026 - 12:12AM

Hong Kong politics

Beijing slams US, UK, Australia and EU over Jimmy Lai sentencing remarks

Commissioner’s office says it summoned representatives from the countries and bloc in Hong Kong to voice ‘strong dissatisfaction’.

14 Feb 2026 - 8:20PM

Hong Kong’s High Court on Monday sentenced the 78-year-old Jimmy Lai to 20 years in jail for national security crimes. Photo: AFP

Australia

Australia demands answers from Laos over methanol poisoning ‘injustice’

While 10 were convicted of destroying evidence, not a single person has been charged in connection with the deaths of two Melbourne teens.

11 Feb 2026 - 1:20PMvideocam

Jimmy Lai trial

Ex-media boss Jimmy Lai jailed for 20 years under national security law

Beijing hails punishment as a ‘powerful declaration’ against those who dare challenge the city’s national security law.

10 Feb 2026 - 11:24PMvideocam

United States

Not ‘Trump-compatible’? China expert Rudd exits Australia’s US ambassador role

Kevin ‌Rudd left his post a year ‍earlier than planned following criticism from US President Donald Trump at White House meeting in October.

14 Jan 2026 - 6:34AMvideocam

United States

Rubio and Hegseth discuss Indo-Pacific security with Australian counterparts

At the talks, Rubio hailed cooperation between the US and Canberra on critical minerals, defence production and troop deployments.

9 Dec 2025 - 4:23AM

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth at the State Department in Washington on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Australia

Australian senator slammed as ‘racist’ for wearing burka in parliament

Far-right politician Pauline Hanson has long campaigned against Islamic clothing during her parliamentary career.

24 Nov 2025 - 6:14PM

Australia

Russian airbase worries overshadow Australia-Indonesia defence treaty

Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Jakarta to consult Canberra on issues related to regional security.

13 Nov 2025 - 1:52PM

China-Australia relations

Call for ‘Pacific Eyes’ intelligence body to offset China’s growing presence

Think tank proposes dedicated alliance – initially with Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji – to avoid being ‘blindsided’.

21 Oct 2025 - 10:08PMvideocam

Australia

‘Complete nonsense’: Australia hits back at Israel for claiming Iran ban credit

A minister rejected suggestions by Israel that Netanyahu’s ‘timely intervention’ prompted Canberra to take action against Tehran.

27 Aug 2025 - 11:39AMvideocam

Australia

‘Unacceptable’: Australia to expel Iranian envoy over antisemitic attacks

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tehran was behind two antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.

26 Aug 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong slams Western countries over criticism of bounties for second day

‘Anti-China organisations’ and foreign countries making ‘irresponsible remarks’ about Hong Kong, government says.

27 Jul 2025 - 7:50PM

Australia

Opinion | Australia should not sabotage its own efforts to boost ties with China

Albanese’s meetings in China suggest the bilateral relationship is stabilising but that there is little desire for significant policy advances.

21 Jul 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Australia

In US-China tug of war, Australia puts itself first

With one eye on the past and the other on the Asia-Pacific’s future, Australia’s prime minister is championing sovereignty in an uncertain age.

17 Jul 2025 - 1:51PM

India

India’s global clout in doubt after failing to sway SCO, Quad on Pakistan

SCO did not mention the militant attack in Pahalgam at its recent meeting, while the Quad’s statement on the incident excluded Pakistan.

7 Jul 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

The Philippines

USS George Washington’s Manila visit signals US commitment amid ‘crowded’ seas

The USS George Washington’s Manila port call comes just days after China deployed two of its carriers to the Western Pacific for military drills.

4 Jul 2025 - 7:51PMvideocam

The USS George Washington is seen berthing at Manila Bay on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Penny Wong

(黃英賢)

Australian trade minister to visit China to secure fuel during Iran war crunch

Beijing tightened jet fuel exports after the war broke out, forcing Canberra to seek alternative suppliers.

Why China’s jet fuel deal with Australia underscores Canberra’s balancing act

Trump, Putin talk Iran and Ukraine, US energy exports up: what happened overnight

Pacific Islanders skip food, medicine amid global fuel shortage from Iran war

Pacific nations are the most reliant on diesel for power generation worldwide. They imported about 2.2 million tonnes of fuel in 2025.

Australia pledges US$1.7 million in aid after Cyclone Maila kills 11 in Pacific

Entire villages were destroyed in the storm, was briefly classified as a Category 5 cyclone.

Hong Kong court dismisses appeals of 12 activists over landmark subversion case

Court also upholds acquittal of Lawrence Lau Wai-chung, with Department of Justice to consider appealing ruling.

Beijing slams US, UK, Australia and EU over Jimmy Lai sentencing remarks

Commissioner’s office says it summoned representatives from the countries and bloc in Hong Kong to voice ‘strong dissatisfaction’.

Australia demands answers from Laos over methanol poisoning ‘injustice’

While 10 were convicted of destroying evidence, not a single person has been charged in connection with the deaths of two Melbourne teens.

Ex-media boss Jimmy Lai jailed for 20 years under national security law

Beijing hails punishment as a ‘powerful declaration’ against those who dare challenge the city’s national security law.

Not ‘Trump-compatible’? China expert Rudd exits Australia’s US ambassador role

Kevin ‌Rudd left his post a year ‍earlier than planned following criticism from US President Donald Trump at White House meeting in October.

Rubio and Hegseth discuss Indo-Pacific security with Australian counterparts

At the talks, Rubio hailed cooperation between the US and Canberra on critical minerals, defence production and troop deployments.

Australian senator slammed as ‘racist’ for wearing burka in parliament

Far-right politician Pauline Hanson has long campaigned against Islamic clothing during her parliamentary career.

Russian airbase worries overshadow Australia-Indonesia defence treaty

Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Jakarta to consult Canberra on issues related to regional security.

Call for ‘Pacific Eyes’ intelligence body to offset China’s growing presence

Think tank proposes dedicated alliance – initially with Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji – to avoid being ‘blindsided’.

‘Complete nonsense’: Australia hits back at Israel for claiming Iran ban credit

A minister rejected suggestions by Israel that Netanyahu’s ‘timely intervention’ prompted Canberra to take action against Tehran.

‘Unacceptable’: Australia to expel Iranian envoy over antisemitic attacks

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tehran was behind two antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.

Hong Kong slams Western countries over criticism of bounties for second day

‘Anti-China organisations’ and foreign countries making ‘irresponsible remarks’ about Hong Kong, government says.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Australia should not sabotage its own efforts to boost ties with China

Albanese’s meetings in China suggest the bilateral relationship is stabilising but that there is little desire for significant policy advances.

In US-China tug of war, Australia puts itself first

With one eye on the past and the other on the Asia-Pacific’s future, Australia’s prime minister is championing sovereignty in an uncertain age.

India’s global clout in doubt after failing to sway SCO, Quad on Pakistan

SCO did not mention the militant attack in Pahalgam at its recent meeting, while the Quad’s statement on the incident excluded Pakistan.

USS George Washington’s Manila visit signals US commitment amid ‘crowded’ seas

The USS George Washington’s Manila port call comes just days after China deployed two of its carriers to the Western Pacific for military drills.

Opinion | Australia should not sabotage its own efforts to boost ties with China