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

Initial planning has begun for Japan’s new Prime Minister to visit Australia next year, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of an historic Friendship and Co-operation treaty signed between both nations.

Overnight Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a “very warm” first meeting with Japan’s so-called ‘Iron Lady’ and first female leader, Sanae Takaichi, on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Nightly can reveal that preliminary discussions are underway for the Japanese Prime Minister to visit Australia next year, fifty years after Japan signed the 1976 Basic Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation in Tokyo.

The document signed by former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser is also known as the NARA Treaty, the same name as the Japanese city where Ms Takaichi was born, and which still has a sister-city relationship with Canberra.

Mr Albanese said he had congratulated Ms Takaichi on her recent election victory and revealed the pair discussed this year’s frigates deal with the Asian nation which is now one of Australia’s closest military partners.

Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has announced she will officially change the title of her party to “One Nation”, dropping her own name from the movement she founded almost 30 years ago.

In a statement on its website, Pauline Hanson’s One Nation describes the decision as “a defining moment for the movement, reaffirming its identity as a voice for ordinary Australians who value fairness, sovereignty, and unity”.

Senator Hanson said the change “symbolises a renewed focus on the principles that first inspired millions of Australians to join the movement: putting the nation and its people first”.

Last week the outspoken politician declared she is nowhere near ready to retire, rejecting speculation she had offered the party leadership to former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce by telling Sky News : “I haven’t got a foot in the grave yet”.

Should Mr Joyce run for One Nation as a NSW Senate candidate at the next election he could become its fifth senator, giving it the minimum five parliamentary spots needed for official party status in the upper house.

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 used a bilateral with Premier Li Qiang to “very directly” raise concerns over a Chinese jet releasing flares in close proximity to an Australian maritime patrol plane last week.

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.”