Australian news and politics live: Albanese confronts Chinese Premier Li over RAAF incident in South China Sea

Anthony Albanese has described the QUAD meeting as an “important” engagement he’s “hopeful” will continue after doubts over its longevity.

The QUAD — Quadrilateral Security Dialogue — is an international engagement made up of India, Japan, Australia, and the United States.

However, it has been under a cloud since US President Donald Trump returned to office and tensions boiled between America and India earlier this year.

Asked while attending the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, the PM backed calls from Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for it to continue.

“The QUAD is important for us to engage - Australia, the US, Japan and India,” the PM said.

“I’m hopeful that there will be a meeting in the first quarter, I would hope, of next year. Prime Minister Modi is due to host the QUAD meeting.”

The PM added that he welcomed US President Donald Trump meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Korea after tensions between the two superpowers.

“This is a busy summit season. President Trump has a busy period. He is travelling to Japan but also having the meeting in Korea with President Xi. We welcome the fact that the leaders of the two largest economies in the world are having that direct engagement,” the PM said.

Anthony Albanese says he raised “very directly” the concern he held over a recent incident where a Chinese jet released flares in close proximity to an Australian maritime patrol plane during his meeting with Premier Li Qiang.

The pair met on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday morning. It marked their seventh face-to-face meeting since Mr Albanese was elected PM.

He described the bilateral as “a positive meeting” and even went as far as to call him a “friend”.

“Dialogue is about advancing our interests, matching our differences but dealing with each other in a frank and clear way,” the PM said.

“We have disagreements and friends are able to discuss issues.

“It’s important that we engage and that we engage diplomatically and we make clear our position, which I did directly, which we did when the incident occurred. He heard the message very directly.

“I’ve said repeatedly, we must cooperate where we can. Disagree where we must. But engage in our national interests. And that’s the spirit in which we entered the discussion today.”

Anthony Albanese has described his first meeting with Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Sanae Takaichi as a “warm” engagement.

Mr Albanese met with Japan’s first female prime minister on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

He said he had congratulated Ms Takaichi on her recent election victory and revealed the pair discussed Australia’s frigates deal with the Asian nation.

“Last night, I had the opportunity to meet Japan’s new Prime Minister Takaichi for the very first time. We had a very warm first engagement,” the PM said.

“And it was terrific to be one of the first international leaders to meet the new Prime Minister, the first woman to be Prime Minister of Japan.

“Japan is such an important relationship for us.

“We engage in defence and issues but importantly as an economic partner. We’re a reliable supplier of energy for Japan.

“Japan, of course, has recently with the Mogami frigates as well, which is where we will source them and manufacture in Western Australia as that relationship goes forward.”

Shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston has accused Labor of “creating false expectations” for patients that they will receive fully bulk billed care from Saturday.

Health Minister Mark Butler had announced earlier on Monday that at least 900 clinics have joined the bulk-billing wave as part of Labor’s $8.5 billion Medicare promise.

She said it was a “misleading” campaign as there was no assurance nor obligation that every GP would sign on to the incentives.

“Anthony Albanese told Australians on at least 71 occasions that ‘all you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card’ and that it would be ‘free to see a GP’,” Senator Ruston said on Monday.

“But the reality is that the Government is not expecting to reach their own targets until after the next election.

“Labor is creating false expectations amongst Australian families at a time when they can least afford essential healthcare.”

Barnaby Joyce has remained vague on his political future after confusion about which party he sits with as Parliament returns.

The New England MP declared last week he wouldn’t run for his seat at the next election and described himself as a “free agent”.

And, he has not moved shut down rumours he’s looking to deflect to One Nation.

During a brief press conference in Canberra on Monday morning, he confirmed “I haven’t joined One Nation” but hinted at setting up a meeting with leader Pauline Hanson this week.

He added “I’m still in the National party” despite snubbing their partyroom meeting and told reporters to “talk to me in the future” about his long-term intentions.

When later asked on Sky News if he was looking to become an independent, Mr Joyce again was vague about his intentions.

“I’m Barnaby Joyce and very proud of it every time I look at my name tag,” Mr Joyce said.

“I’m a parliamentarian that’s had the incredible blessing of representing the people of New England. I’ll continue to do what is best for the people of New England. That’s my job first and foremost above everything else.”

Business representatives are urging the Coalition to drop its demand the Government split up an overhaul of environmental law reforms, saying keeping everything on the table at once will deliver the best outcome.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley wrote to Anthony Albanese on Sunday calling for the legislation – which is yet to be revealed in full – to be split in two and separate the measures to streamline approvals from stronger environmental protections.

Environment Minister Murray Watt on Monday morning dismissed this as a “silly idea”.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is today expected to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, just over a week after a People’s Liberation Army warplane “dangerously” intercepted an RAAF aircraft in the South China Sea.

The high-level talks also follow Mr Albanese’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House last week, which was focused on discussions over countering Beijing’s dominance on critical minerals and its rising regional military dominance.

At the ASEAN summit, and at the APEC meeting later this week, Mr Albanese will urge his regional counterparts to embrace the benefits of free trade and economic openness amid rising tensions between China and the US over tariffs and export controls.

In a speech to the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum on Monday, Mr Albanese will argue that the best way to enhance the security and resilience of the global economy is “not to turn inwards, it is to look outwards”.

Curtin MP Kate Chaney has been heckled by Barnaby Joyce in Parliament after speaking out against his private member’s bill to repeal net zero.

The Independent had told the House of Representatives on Monday morning that “it’s not a burden; it’s a blueprint for the future”.

After her short address, Speaker and Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour was forced to issue a warning to Mr Joyce about his interjections.

Shortly after the row on the floor, Mr Joyce appeared on a Sky News interview where he expressed his frustration over sitting next to “Teal MPs”.

“It’s very annoying sitting next to the Teals. It’s almost like a sense of entitlement that they can inflict on regional people,” Mr Joyce said.

“Net Zero is devastating for regional people”

He then monologued about net zero supporters trying to appease “the millennials, the millennials, the millennials in North Sydney”.

Liberal MP Tony Pasin has broken ranks and spoken in Parliament to support Barnaby Joyce’s private member’s bill to repeal net zero.

Addressing the bill in the House of Representatives on Monday, the South Australian MP described the 2050 pledge to reduce emissions as a “reckless commitment”.

“It sounds neat, even noble. But in practice, net zero’s a costly illusion, a political slogan masquerading as science. Imposed without honesty and absent realism,” the Barker MP said.

“Australia’s commitment to net zero has delivered nothing but pain to the Australian people.

“It’s driven up the cost of power, destroyed manufacturing and gutted regional communities. While doing nothing to change the globe’s climate.”

Maverick MP Barnaby Joyce has snubbed his usual Nationals party room meeting on Monday, instead appearing on a live Sky News interview in Canberra.

The long-time Nationals member has placed himself in political limbo as Parliament returns on Monday morning after declaring himself “a free agent”.

While his leader, David Little proud and colleagues had welcomed him in the party room, Mr Joyce declared that he wouldn’t attend but would continue to sit with the Nationals in the House of Representatives.

“What I’m doing is really focusing on the policy agenda,” he told Sky News as the Nationals held their meeting.

“Net Zero is devastating for regional people. I want to get rid of net zero. Get rid of it. It’s all rubbish.

“I know I don’t need to be part of a discussion.

“In fact, it’s probably better that I’m not there that is so that the room can have the confidence of what they say stays in the room.”