Chinese officials have blocked photographers from getting Australian journalist Cheng Lei in the same shot as Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Canberra.

Cheng, who was detained in China for three years before being released in October, told Sky that Chinese officials could be “very control freakish” and “stage-manage everything”.

“I wanted to get away from the guy [Chinese official] who was standing next to me. I think the worry is that my being there is a symbol of some sort,” she said on Monday.

“Maybe they didn’t want that for the domestic audience. We don’t want this incident to overshadow the rest of the visit, which is the real news. It is enough of a circus without me being a sideshow.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he wasn’t aware of the incident but added: “It’s important that people be allowed to participate fully. And that’s what should happen in this building, or anywhere else in Australia.”