Cheng Lei blocked by Chinese officials during tense scenes in Parliament House

Chinese officials tried to block cameras from filming Australian journalist Cheng Lei in tense scenes that marred a press event with Premier Li Qiang in Parliament House.

Ms Lei was released from Chinese prison last October after a three-year ordeal that became a major sore point in relations between Canberra and Beijing.

Now working for Sky News Australia, Ms Lei joined other Australian journalists at a press event in parliament on Monday featuring Mr Li, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and senior Labor ministers.

After Ms Lei took her seat, a Chinese official positioned himself in front of the journalist in an apparent attempt to block cameras from filming her.

Australian officials repeatedly asked the Chinese official to move – but he refused to budge.

Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei listens to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a press conference at the Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, June 17, 2024.

Ms Lei then swapped seats with another journalist, only for another Chinese official to attempt to block her from a different direction.

Australian bureaucrats stepped in again, standing in front of Ms Lei to prevent the Chinese official’s advances.

The Nightly was seated in the same row as Ms Lei and witnessed the scene, which played out as federal ministers and China’s ambassador to Australia signed memorandums of understanding to cooperate on areas including climate change and education.

Speaking on Sky News, Ms Lei said the Chinese officials had gone to “great lengths to block me from the cameras, and to flank them”.

“I am only guessing it is to prevent me from saying something or doing something that they think would be a bad look. But that in itself was a bad look,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he hadn’t seen the incident when asked about it at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

“Look, I’m not aware of those issues,” Mr Albanese said.

“It’s important that people be allowed to participate fully and that’s what should happen in this building or anywhere else in Australia.”

Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson said conduct from the Chinese officials was “totally and utterly unacceptable”.

“We do not body block journalists from filming in our Parliament house, and for Chinese officials to behave this way in our country shows disrespect for our Parliament and our customs,” he told Sky News.

“And frankly, I think there should be an apology from the Chinese delegation for this behaviour.”

Senator Paterson said Mr Albanese’s claim to unaware of the incident was “not credible”.