Foreign Minister Penny Wong has appeared on TV wearing a microphone from high-risk Chinese tech company DJI

Foreign Minister Penny Wong appeared on TV wearing a microphone from high-risk Chinese tech company DJI, despite DFAT promises to phase out the problematic devices.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong used a microphone manufactured by controversial Chinese tech company DJI for a TV interview broadcast from inside Australia’s Embassy in Vietnam.

Senator Wong used an audio microphone which clearly displayed the DJI logo despite DFAT several months ago publicly stating it was getting rid of its DJI-manufactured equipment.

The company is facing a shadow-ban by the Australian Government after it was formally black-listed by the Pentagon and faced other restrictions slapped on it by the US Government late last year as a result of its close links to the Chinese state.

There are also concerns that any data obtained by its internet-enabled devices would be handed over to the Chinese Communist Party’s intelligence agencies upon request, as required of Chinese-headquartered companies under the 2017 national security laws.

The United States has puts bans and restrictions on products manufactured by Chinese company DJI. Picture: AFP

Senator Wong answered a number of questions about China and Chinese influence during her live interview with the ABC’s 7.30 program from a hotel in Hanoi last week.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said the Australian Government “is acting to better protect government information from technologies of security concern.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working to remove all DJI equipment from use across offices in Canberra and throughout the international network,’’ the spokesperson said.

“While the Department works to procure suitable replacement equipment, some DJI microphones continue to be used in limited circumstances. Use is controlled and limited to public settings.’’

Australia’s Department of Defence was the first to start ridding itself of DJI products after The Australian revealed earlier this year it was using hundreds of drones and other pieces of equipment despite the US banning them due to security concerns and the use of the technology in surveilling the oppressed Uighur population in Xinjiang.

A DJI Inspire drone. Picture: AFP

While no formal ban has been issued, all Australian government agencies are quietly following Defence’s lead.

In June, DFAT told an Estimates hearing it was getting rid of DJI drones “as quickly as possible.’’

Other products manufactured by DJI – which is formally known as Da Jiang Innovations and is headquartered in China – are also being disposed of.

It’s believed DFAT is taking other precautions with the risky technology, including ensuring that hardware such as microphones, drones and cameras were never connected to DFAT’s government IT systems.

DJI equipment is not taken into secure locations.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson, who has led the charge against risky Chinese technology, questioned the decision to use a DJI microphone in Senator Wong’s interview.

“The Government has rightly recognised DJI products are not safe or appropriate to use given the company’s close links to the Chinese Communist Party,’’ he said.

“DFAT has promised to phase them out. How then can be it appropriate for the Foreign Minister to prominently wear an obvious branded DJI product in a nationally televised interview?’’

Senator Paterson said the decision sent a mixed signal about the government’s intentions with DJI.

“The sooner all these risky devices are out of the federal public service the better,’’ he said.

“The Foreign Minister shouldn’t be a human billboard for any company, let alone one that has had its technology banned from her own department as a security risk.’’