Chinese officials block journalist Cheng Lei from view of cameras during China-Australia press event

Anthony Albanese has criticised the treatment of journalist Cheng Lei, who Chinese officials attempted to block from the view cameras during a press conference with the Chinese Premier. Here’s what he said.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says Anthony Albanese needs to “grow a backbone” and stand up for Australia after the prime minister failed to immediately respond to reports of Chinese officials’ attempt to block journalist Cheng Lei at a press event in Canberra.

Mr Dutton said the PM should have reacted sooner and suggested he had misled Australians when he claimed to not be aware of the incident hours after it occurred on Monday.

“The job of the prime minister is to make tough decisions and to call out bad behaviour and to make sure that you do the right thing by Australians — and that’s what our prime minister should do,” Mr Dutton said.

“The issue of Cheng Lei (was) a very regrettable incident and I’m very pleased to hear that the government’s raised that with the Chinese embassy because it’s completely unacceptable in our free society for that sort of conduct to take place.”

Earlier, Mr Albanese condemned the treatment of Ms Lei by Chinese officials who made a “clumsy” attempt to block her from the view of cameras during a press event in Canberra.

Chinese media officials appear to block Cheng Lei from being filmed. Pictures: Supplied

The prime minister said the matter had been formally followed up with the Chinese Embassy to express Australia’s “concern”.

“There should be no impediments to Australian journalists going about their job and we’ve made that clear to the Chinese Embassy,” he told ABC Radio.

Mr Albanese said Australian officials were right to try and stop the Chinese staff from blocking her.

“When you look at the footage, it was a pretty clumsy attempt frankly by a couple of people to stand in between where the cameras were, and where Cheng Lei was sitting,” he said

It comes after tense clashes between protesters and intimidating media tactics during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to the nation’s capital have shattered the friendly facade of Beijing’s relations with Australia.

China supporters and protesters outside Australian Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

The visit of China’s second-in-charge to the nation’s capital on Monday was overshadowed by thuggish treatment of pro-democracy protesters on the lawns of Parliament House and a clumsy attempt to block Australian journalist Cheng Lei from the view of news cameras inside the building.

Australian officials raised concerns with their Chinese counterparts about Ms Cheng’s treatment, but the Opposition said Anthony Albanese should have later called it out publicly.

The Prime Minister hosted Mr Li for the annual China-Australia leaders meeting where the pair signed updated agreements to strengthen co-operation on trade, climate change, education and cultural exchange.

Meanwhile outside parliament, protesters from the Hong Kong pro-democracy, Tibet and Uyghur human rights, and the Falun Gong movements clashed with Chinese Government supporters.

Sky News Australia journalist Cheng Lei was blocked from the view of cameras during the China-Australia press event in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

Hundreds of people carrying Chinese and Australian flags gathered to welcome Mr Li to Canberra, which sparked several scuffles with protesters who reported having their own signs and flags targeted.

ACT Policing arrested one person for a “breach of the peace” during the protests.

The tense scenes were at odds with the red carpet welcome for Mr Li and his delegation, who stayed for a state lunch attended by Opposition leader Peter Dutton and Australian business leaders.

The situation worsened when two Chinese Embassy officials sparked outrage by moving to physically block Ms Cheng from the view of cameras in a room where Mr Albanese and Mr Li were due to give remarks.

Ms Cheng, a Sky News Australia journalist who was released from a Beijing prison in October, said the Chinese officials went to “great lengths” to obscure her.

“I’m guessing that they wanted to prevent me from saying something or doing something that they think would be a ‘bad look,’ but that was a bad look,” she said.

Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) staff repeatedly asked the Chinese officials to move, but they were ignored.

Ms Cheng later swapped seats with another journalist, and the Chinese officials were physically blocked from standing in front of her again by the Australian staff.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

A PM&C official described the behaviour of their Chinese counterparts as the “height of rudeness” and was seen directly raising the issue with the travelling delegation.

Ms Cheng was jailed in China for three years after being convicted for espionage, an allegation she has denied, during a closed-door trial slammed by Australia.

Her release in October was secured after intense lobbying from the Albanese Government and her supporters.

When asked about the incident on Monday, Mr Albanese said he was not aware of it, but that it was “important that people be allowed to participate fully”.

“That’s what should happen in this building, or anywhere else in Australia,” he said.

China supporters appear to cover protester with Chinese flag. Picture: DrewPavlou

Coalition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said it was “completely not credible” for the PM to be unaware of the widely reported exchange, suggesting Mr Albanese was simply attempting to “evade scrutiny”.

“We do not body block journalists from filming in our Parliament House, and for Chinese officials to behave this way in our country shows disrespect for our parliament and our customs,” Mr Paterson said.

“Frankly, I think there should be an apology from the Chinese delegation.”

Mr Paterson said it was important Australia strategically criticised the Chinese Government.

“We shouldn’t be cowed into silence,” he said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is in Australia for three days. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Speaking after his meeting with Mr Li, Mr Albanese confirmed he directly raised concerns about the ongoing imprisonment and welfare of Australian academic Dr Yang Hengjun, who was handed a suspended death sentence in China earlier this year.

Mr Albanese also revealed the countries had agreed to improve “military communication” in the wake of two serious incidents where “unprofessional” Chinese military activity in international waters endangered the lives of Australian Defence Force personnel.

Mr Li said he “sincerely” hoped to work to build a more “mature, stable and fruitful” relationships with Australia.

China's Premier Li Qiang inspects a guard of honour during an official welcome ceremony on the forecourt of Australian Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Lukas Coch/AFP

China’s ongoing trade impediments on Australian lobster exports were also raised during talks, with Agriculture Minister Murray Watt saying he was “hopeful” of a resolution “happening soon”.

Mr Li will on Tuesday take part in the Australia-China CEO roundtable in Perth, a community event with the local diaspora, and also tour Fortescue’s hydrogen research and development centre.

Fortescue Metals chief Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest said he wanted to show the Asian superpower Australia was “walking the talk” on the green transition.

Mr Forrest said China’s desire to reduce pollution around its large cities made a future green ore export industry from Australia a trade “marriage made in heaven”.

“It will cause very large investments in Australia, and lift the employment market right across our country, drive green energy into the Australian economy and lowers cost of living,” he said.

Originally published as Chinese officials block journalist Cheng Lei from view of cameras during China-Australia press event