Australia information reside: mass Covid vaccination hub for Sydney might be operational in ‘couple of months’
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Australia hits 920,334 vaccinations, well being minister Greg Hunt says
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23:51
On the Australian authorities’s request for 1m AstraZeneca doses to be made obtainable for Papua New Guinea, a spokesperson for the European Union has advised Guardian Australia this afternoon:
We affirm that the president of the European Fee has obtained a letter from the Australian prime minister on this matter and we’ll reply in due time.
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23:35
Chinese language embassy to push again at Xinjiang criticism
Readers might have seen that Scott Morrison was requested this morning a few deliberate press convention organized by the Chinese language embassy, which is because of begin at 2pm Canberra time.
I’ll be heading alongside to the occasion and can file information afterwards. However the 90-minute press convention is anticipated to incorporate some form of video hook-up with officers from the Xinjiang area, the place China has been accused of gross human rights abuses in opposition to Uyghurs and different Muslim minorities. The Canadian and Dutch parliaments and the US authorities have described the scenario in Xinjiang as genocide.
The actual fact the Chinese language embassy in Australia has organized this occasion suggests it’s desirous to push again on the rising worldwide criticism of what’s going on in Xinjiang. Chinese language officers have beforehand argued that its conduct in Xinjiang is “above board”.
Morrison didn’t remark particularly on Xinjiang on this morning’s presser, however mentioned the world was “a lot more uncertain at the moment than it has been for a long time”. The prime minister mentioned whereas he wished a constructive relationship with China, Australia would additionally act “in accordance with its values and its national character – and that will never be, that will never be something that we would yield for the sake of a relationship”.
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23:02
Australia must handle China relationship and diversify export markets – report
Australia must handle the more and more complicated relationship with China, whilst the federal government seeks areas to diversify its export markets, in line with a brand new report out this afternoon.
The Asia Taskforce – which incorporates the Enterprise Council of Australia and Asia Society Australia – requires a goal of boosting Australia’s exports to 35% of GDP by 2030 (up from 29% in 2019).
The report says Australian enterprise now “stands at a crossroads”. It says not because the Nineteen Seventies, when the UK turned in direction of Europe, “have we witnessed a major re-alignment in how we trade and invest in the world”.
The taskforce, which additionally includes consultants PwC and the College of Sydney’s enterprise college, argues the disruption of Covid-19 additionally brings ahead stark selections, as “protectionist policies that seemed unthinkable a year ago are creeping back”.
Common assist for the open financial system can’t be taken without any consideration. Retreating to outdated acquainted relationships in western markets, falling behind in Asia literacy and failing to construct connections with new Asian enterprise companions shouldn’t be seen as a severe default alternative when consumption in Asia will doubtless gas future international development.
The report backs the necessity to diversify Australia’s export markets, however says this doesn’t imply abandoning the financial relationship with China, the biggest buying and selling companion. It says diversification for Australia means buying and selling with China may also construct up different relationships within the area.
The report – titled A second probability: How Crew Australia can reach Asia – says that “learning to navigate a more complex relationship with China is imperative and efforts to ensure both countries engage constructively must be a priority”.
Different suggestions embody adopting a “Team Australia” method to growing new alternatives; play to our strengths by adopting nation sector methods; rebooting Asia literacy; and championing the expertise in our Asian-Australian and diaspora communities.
The commerce minister, Dan Tehan, is anticipated to launch the report at an occasion in Canberra later at the moment.
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