Foreign relations
Inside the fiery meeting that would define the government’s relationship with Israel
Fallout from the war in Gaza has created a deepening rift in relations between Australia and Israel. The hostilities are political and personal.
- by Matthew Knott
Latest
Updated
PNG
Australia signs $600m deal to create PNG NRL team; further expansion could be ‘weeks away’
The deal to establish a PNG team comes with a China “escape clause” for Australia, while ARLC chair Peter V’landys has revealed another NRL license could be granted before Christmas.
- by Matthew Knott, Adrian Proszenko and Michael Chammas
Updated
Pacific diplomacy
Australia fires Tomahawk missile for first time, spends $140m to China-proof Nauru
Faced with challenges in the Indo-Pacific, Australia revealed it test-fired a Tomahawk missile recently as it ramps up its long-range strike capability.
- by Matthew Knott
Netanyahu claims Melbourne synagogue attack linked to Labor’s ‘anti-Israel sentiment’
The Israeli leader cited Canberra’s decision to vote for a UN resolution demanding the end of Israel’s “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”.
- by Rob Harris, Ashleigh McMillan and Brittany Busch
Opinion
Pacific diplomacy
Forget ping-pong. When competing with China, it’s rugby league diplomacy that matters
It’s the ultimate display of soft diplomacy, but when it comes to the brand new NRL team for Papua New Guinea, Australia’s playing hardball with China.
- by Matthew Knott
Philippines and Indonesia set precedent for Bali Five return
An Indonesian minister says the Philippines has agreed to the same prisoner transfer proposal submitted to Australia.
- by Zach Hope and Amilia Rosa
‘The two-state solution is absolutely dead,’ leading Palestinian advocate says
The head of the Palestinian lobby in Australia said the two-state solution was akin to partitioning apartheid South Africa into separate black and white nations.
- by Matthew Knott
‘Shameless’: Peak Jewish group says Labor betrayed Israel at UN
Labor’s relationship with Israel has sunk to new lows, with the nation’s peak Jewish group declaring Australia’s longstanding bipartisan support for Israel has essentially vanished.
- by Matthew Knott
Plans to return Bali Five home to Australia hit by complications
Indonesia has given Australia a draft proposal of how it wants the transfer of the remaining Bali Nine prisoners to work in the most tangible sign a deal will be done.
- by Zach Hope and Karuni Rompies
Exclusive
Pacific diplomacy
Albanese wants to China-proof the Pacific, but Nauru is driving a hard bargain
As Australia seeks to prevent China from gaining a security foothold in the Pacific, island nations are negotiating hard.
- by Matthew Knott
Meet Australia’s best friend in Washington... no, not Kevin Rudd
A man known as “Two Sub Joe” has become Canberra’s can-do contact with Washington’s powerbrokers.
- by Farrah Tomazin