Australian news and politics recap May 29: China’s ‘no political strings attached’ move with Pacific nations

This concludes our live news and politics coverage for the day.

Check back in tomorrow morning for more live news action.

The Minerals Council of Australia boss has called for more “timely and balanced approvals” for nationally significant projects after delays in the North West Shelf expansion.

Tania Constable welcomed Murray Watt’s decision to approve an expansion to 2070 but wanted “uncertain delays” could harm investment.

She said the approval on Wednesday was “a long-anticipated” after six years of assessment and the WA Government’s support in December 2024.

“With demand for energy-intensive industrial activity expected to grow, particularly across mining and minerals processing, Australia must ensure its approvals framework supports energy security for both domestic use and regional partners,” she said.

“This approval sends a message that our regulatory system can deliver the certainty needed to develop the large-scale projects that underpin our economic prosperity and energy security.”

It comes as One Nation candidate Lee Hanson — daughter of party founder Pauline — was unsuccessful in securing a Senate spot in Tasmania.

Taking to social media after the news on Thursday, the One Nation leader congratulated Mr Whitten and labelled him “a proud Australian and passionate advocate for everyday people”.

“Tyron is determined to restore the values that built this country; hard work, personal responsibility and freedom,” she said in a statement.

“He will fight reckless immigration policies that drive up housing costs, support a strong national energy plan that uses our own resources to lower power bills and oppose globalist agendas that leave Australians behind.”

One Nation has claimed the last senator spot in WA.

The Australian Electoral Commission announced One Nation’s Tyron Whitten claimed the sixth senator seat at the 2025 Federal Election. He will now serve a six-year term.

He secured the gig alongside two Labor candidates in Ellie Whiteaker and Varun Ghosh, two Liberals Slade Brockman and Matt O’Sullivan, and Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John.

Senator Whitten had edged out Labor’s Deep Singh, a former United Worker’s Union organiser, who had been in the led for several weeks.

AEC WA officer Anita Ratcliffe said the distribution of preferences was conducted today, which had given him a late surge.

“As with all aspects of the count, scrutineers appointed by the candidates were able to witness the automated distribution of preferences undertaken today,” Ms Ratcliffe said.

After Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hit out at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) over a wake-up-call defence report, the executive director has given the PM some tough love.

Justin Bassi, executive director of ASPI responded to the PM’s criticism by saying: “No one likes criticism.”

“Our job... is not to seek praise,” he told Sky News on Thursday.

“Obviously, no one likes criticism, but we want to enhance the debate.

“It doesn’t matter whether people agree or disagree, the public really should be told what these threats are and why the policy settings are the way they are.

“ASPI was set up to deliver the hard truths to the government of the day, regardless of who’s in power.”

Read Aaron Patrick’s opinion on the ASPI fallout.

Mark Riley writes: Sussan Ley embraces the right of backbenchers to speak their minds on policy issues as one of the great democratic traditions of the Liberal and National parties.

“It is something you cannot do in the Labor Party!” she insists.

She’s right. The old command and control structures that the Labor Party has inherited from its union roots impose a shatterproof discipline that demands absolute solidarity. Anyone who votes against party policy faces expulsion.

Ley says the freedom of speech her MPs enjoy is something she values deeply.

“We love the expression that people want to make about a whole range of different areas of policy,” she said on Wednesday.

It is lucky she feels that way. She is going to have plenty of “free expression” to love over the next three years.

Read Mark Riley’s full opinion piece.

China has sought to stamp its authority in the Pacific against Australian wishes, hosting island leaders while searching for a greater security foothold in the region.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrapped up a two-day summit with a clutch of Pacific nations on Thursday with promises on climate and development, and further police cooperation.

Beijing will give $US2 million ($3.1 million) to prop upclean energy, fisheries, oceans, low-carbon infrastructure and tourism across the region.

Mr Wang also pledged support for 100 “small but beautiful” projects across Pacific nations over the next three years.

Read the full story.

Anthony Albanese has defended his Government’s call to extend Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project to 2070, saying gas is essential as the country shifts to renewables.

Environment Minister Murray Watt gave the project a provisional green light on Wednesday, subject to subject to strict conditions around cultural heritage management and air quality, after the decision was twice delayed by his predecessor Tanya Plibersek.

The Prime Minister acknowledged there were concerns from soem quarters but said all appropriate processes were followed and stressed that Australia needed gas to back its move to renewables.

“Murray Watt as the Federal Minister had to look at some of the issues which are there,” Mr Albanese told ABC radio on Thursday.

“He has made a preliminary determination out there for comment that is based upon very strict conditions ... being provided.

“In order to get that investment in renewables you do need firming capacity, whether it be batteries, hydro or gas, and that is what will encourage that investment and the transition to occur.”

Read Caitlyn Rintoul’s story

Just two votes separate the candidates in the Bradfield recount.

At 1.30pm AEST, Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian was leading independent teal candidate Nicolette Boele by a wafer thin margin.

If she wins, Ms Kapterian will take up role in Sussan Ley’s outer ministry as the opposition’s assistant communications spokeswoman.

It is the fourth day of the recount and analysts say we could be in for a long wait for a final result.

A partial recount in the Melbourne seat of Goldstein has Liberal Tim Wilson ahead of independent Zoe Daniel by 265 votes.

Australia is closely studying a US federal trade court decision on Wednesday to block the Trump “Liberation Day” tariffs from going into effect, Trade Minister Don Farrell has confirmed, while urging a note of caution.

The Manhattan-based Court of International Trade ruled that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing sweeping duties on imports from nations that sell more to the US than they buy, which would include Australia’s trade surplus with its biggest ally.

Mr Trump’s announcement on a sweeping base line 10 per cent levy on Australian exports to the United States overshadowed the first week of the Federal election campaign and was denounced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “not the act of a friend.”

Senator Farrell, who is leading efforts to lift the tax on Australian goods, said on Thursday the Government would study the US court decision on reciprocal tariffs closely but noted that “they may be subject to further legal processes through the courts.”

He repeated the “consistent” Australian position that “these tariffs on Australian imports into the US are unjustified,” and said the Government would “continue to engage and strongly advocate for the removal of tariffs.”

“The Albanese Government will always stand up for Australia’s national interests, including Australian jobs and Australian industries,” added Senator Farrell.

Read the story