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Award-winning journalist Simon Benson is The Australian’s Political Editor. He was previously National Affairs Editor, the Daily Telegraph’s NSW political editor, and also president of the NSW Parliamentary Press Gallery. He grew up in Melbourne and studied philosophy before completing a postgraduate degree in journalism.

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The Nation

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks to the media during a press conference at the Australian Embassy in Paris, Sunday, July 9, 2017. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is in France for a two-day official visit. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

China ‘has duty to act’

Malcolm Turnbull has bluntly told Chinese President Xi Jinping that he must bring North Korea to heel.

Simon Benson

COMMENTOpinion

Ignore history at world’s peril

A clash of personalities between leaders of the great powers was an inevitable outcome of the G20 meeting in Hamburg.

Simon Benson

The World

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany in this still image taken from video, July 7, 2017. REUTERS/Steffen Kugler/Courtesy of Bundesregierung/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A shake but hostilities linger

Echoes of Cold War hostilities between the US, China and Russia have shadowed the first day of the G20 summit.

SIMON BENSON in HAMBURG

exclusiveForeign Affairs

3/7/ 17 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull holding a press conference in Crowsnest. Adam Yip/ Manly Daily

PM: our economy up with best

The PM will boast that Australia’s economic growth is still performing favourably next to the advanced economies.

SIMON BENSON in Hamburg

G20 ANALYSISOpinion

Economics to take back seat

Malcolm Turnbull has arrived in Hamburg probably not expecting to find himself a minnow in a pool of sharks.

Simon Benson and Hamburg

exclusiveForeign Affairs

Tony Abbott arriving for Question Time in the House of Representatives Chamber, Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Europe ‘can’t stem asylum flow’

Tony Abbott has again accused European leaders of failing to secure their borders.

Simon Benson

Foreign Affairs

Computer servers - metadata. Picture: iStock

Social media giants on notice

Australia will push world leaders to take a tougher position on social media companies over their encrypted metadata.

Simon Benson

exclusiveNational Affairs

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) meets Australian Labor Party leader Bill Shorten Feb. 24, 2017

Labor to cast Israel adrift

Labor will formally abandon almost 40 years of explicit ideological support for Israel.

Simon Benson

exclusiveForeign Affairs

Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo speaks during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, May 24, 2017. Australia and Peru have agreed to start Free Trade Agreement negotiations (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Export push into Latin America

Australia will become the first country to pursue a trade agreement with the exclusive Pacific Alliance bloc.

Simon Benson

exclusiveNational Affairs

Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans? Affairs Dan Tehan during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, June 19, 2017. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

Green light for cyber-warfare

Australia’s cyber intelligence agency can now use cyber-warfare operations to destroy foreign criminal networks.

Simon Benson

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/simon-benson/page/196