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

There’s plenty of posturing about the new environment laws now all the politicians have returned to Canberra – even though no one apart from Murray Watt has seen the full bill yet.

Greens leader Larissa Waters came out blazing just now, saying from the bits of the legislation she had seen, the Government had caved entirely to the resources sector.

“It’s almost like they gave the pen to Chevron and Woodside and Santos to write this version of our environmental laws,” she said.

“That is how convenient it will be for business to trash the place under this Albanese government’s proposed environmental law reforms.”

The Greens want stronger protections around native forest logging, climate factors being considered during the approvals process, and no fast-tracking of new coal and gas projects.

But when pushed on whether any of these were hardline demands that wouldn’t shift during negotiations, Senator Waters would only say her party would continue to talk to the minister.

The Government needs the backing of either the Greens or the Coalition to pass the bill through the Senate.

Anthony Albanese has told media on the sideline of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur that it’s “very positive” that there “hasn’t been a loss of life” from a US aircraft incident in the South China Sea.

At least five crew members had to be rescued after a US fighter jet and a helicopter crashed within 30 minutes of each other.

“I have a been briefed and the positive news that I’ve received in my briefing, these are developing issues, is that the crew on both the helicopter and the aircraft are safe,” the PM said.

“There hasn’t been a loss of life and that is a very positive.

“Obviously, the US will undertake an investigation. It will be up to the US obviously to make statements about that.”

It comes after the PM said he “very directly” raised his concerns over a Chinese fighter jet incident last week with Premier Li Qiang during a bilateral on Monday morning.

Anthony Albanese has shared images of his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

The Prime Minister said he held a “direct” chat with the Premier, bringing up “fact” about the RAAF incident in the South China Sea.

In his post on social media, Mr Albanese said: “Australia’s relationship with China matters.”

“Today’s meeting with Premier Li was an opportunity to continue stabilising our relationship.

“By having direct discussions and regular dialogue, we can navigate our differences and advocate for Australia’s interests.”

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”.