Aussies turn against Anthony Albanese after his unbelievable response to China’s disgraceful act inside Parliament – as the PM is forced to finally call out the behaviour

Anthony Albanese has come under fire for his extraordinary response to China’s brazen attempt to detain an Australian journalist in Parliament House.

At an event in Canberra on Monday with Albanian and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, two Chinese embassy officials tried to prevent cameras from filming Cheng Lei, who was sitting in the press gallery.

Lei worked for China’s English-language news channel until 2020, when she was imprisoned in China for three years on charges that she reported on state secrets, which she later revealed was based on breaking an embargo with “a few minutes.”

Mr Albanese was questioned about the incident shortly afterwards at Parliament House and appeared to brush it off, claiming he ‘didn’t see’ it happen.

His response caused an immediate backlash, with ordinary Australians joining politicians to condemn the comment and demand a stronger response.

Albanese was forced to denounce the behavior on Tuesday, labeling it as “inept”, before emphasizing that there should be no “obstacles” to journalists doing their work in Australia.

Chinese embassy officials tried to prevent cameras from filming Australian journalist Cheng Lei, previously jailed in China on unsubstantiated spying charges, during an event at Parliament House

When later questioned about the incident, Mr Albanese said he had not seen it

Mr Albanese was asked about the act for the first time on Monday after a journalist, who had been sitting next to Lei, asked the prime minister for his opinion.

“Is it acceptable that this type of behavior has been brought into the heart of Australian democracy in Parliament House?” The question was asked about Mr Albanese.

“Well, I didn’t see that,” he replied.

“I saw Cheng Lei and we smiled at each other, but I am not aware of those problems.

“It’s important that people can fully participate and that needs to happen in this building or somewhere else in Australia.”

Former 3AW radio presenter Neil Mitchell said if the Prime Minister had indeed not seen it, it was “absurd” he was not told immediately after the high-level diplomatic event.

“This was on our territory,” Mitchell said.

Some accused Mr Albanese of ‘sitting on the fence’ with his non-committal response, while others went further, claiming he was ‘cringing’ and ‘weak’.

“Disgraceful behavior by the Chinese heavyweights,” someone wrote on X.

“Albo turning a blind eye to it is just as bad.”

“This is appalling behavior that should only exist in communist countries… we have a prime minister who crawls with a hammer and sickle,” said another.

“He didn’t even say he would investigate or raise it (with Chinese representatives),” a third added.

Former radio host Neil Mitchell said it was absurd that the Prime Minister was not immediately informed, given the status of the high-level event attended by the Chinese Prime Minister.

Other Australians said Albo ‘turning a blind eye’ was as bad as China’s attempt at censorship

Others accused the Prime Minister of being ‘weak’ and ‘sitting on the fence’

Mr Albanese told Perth Breakfast Radio on Tuesday that his government had followed up on the matter.

Sky News reporter Cheng Lei, who recently spent three years in a Chinese prison, appeared to be hidden from view by members of the Chinese contingent. Does that worry you if it’s an Australian journalist in Australia doing her job?’ asked host Mark Gibson.

“Oh, that’s right. And our officials have contacted the Chinese Embassy to express our concerns, Mr. Albanese responded.

“To be honest, if you look at the footage, it was quite a clumsy attempt by a few people to get between the cameras and Cheng Lei.

“Australian officials intervened, as they should have, to ask the Chinese officials present at the press conference to move. And they did.

“And indeed, when I held my press conference, Cheng Lei was asked the first question.

“I met Cheng Lei after we helped secure her homecoming. She visited me at Parliament House, in my office, and she is a very decent person and a very professional journalist.

“There should be no barriers for Australian journalists to do their work. And we have made that clear to the Chinese embassy.’

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton supported the government’s protest at the Chinese embassy, ​​but also accused Mr Albanese of lying, initially saying he was unaware of the incident.

“I would point out that the Prime Minister clearly misled the Australian people yesterday when he stood up and held a press conference and said he didn’t hear anything about it, didn’t understand what the question was, or didn’t know what to say about it – it is completely unthinkable,” he said.

Video footage of the incident in question shows the officer refusing repeated polite requests to move.

After being rebuffed, an Australian parliament official then demanded: “You’re standing in front of my Australian colleague – you need to move.”

Another journalist then offered to switch seats with Lei, allowing her to move two seats to the right.

Two Chinese embassy officials (center) standing between cameras and Lei (sitting behind them, not visible)

Lei (looking left) then switched seats with the woman in the blue blazer

But then another Chinese embassy official tried to get close to her to block her view.

An Australian official responded by physically pushing between Lei and the Chinese officials to protect the Sky News presenter.

Lei was detained by Chinese authorities in 2020 after being accused of “illegally providing state secrets abroad,” accusations that were unfounded.

She returned to Melbourne last year after a three-year ordeal in prison and got a job at Sky News.

Lei said afterwards that officials “did their best” to hide her from view and that it “looked bad.”

“They did their utmost to block me from the cameras,” she told Sky News.

“I just suspect this is to prevent me from saying or doing something that they think would look bad, but which in itself was a bad look.”

The entire bizarre interaction lasted the entire twenty-minute press conference.

Lei said it was typical for Chinese officials to convey a “friendly facade” during official visits.

“Well, that’s typically right, with these events,” she said.

‘Certainly if they attach importance to the friendly facade, that they carefully stage the disagreement or the presence of someone who is a bit controversial, that can’t hurt.’

The bizarre incident lasted about 20 minutes, with embassy officials continuing their attempt to block Lei before an Australian government employee intervened (white coat)

The Sky News anchor praised the response from Australian officials.

“Our officials behaved courteously and decisively, as they should have done,” she added.

Australian political figures were quick to condemn the actions.

“This is inappropriate and unacceptable behavior on Australian soil,” Opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson posted on social media.

The incident at the press conference followed pro- and anti-China protesters clashing on the lawn outside Parliament House.

Peaceful supporters of Tibet, a predominantly Buddhist region in China’s far west, were swarmed by counter-protesters who unfurled huge Chinese and Australian flags to hide them from view.

Some protesters carried huge flags uniting the Chinese and Australian flags, while Tibetan sympathizers struggled to keep their banners aloft.

At one point, a scuffle broke out when a man fell to the ground and downed a raised loudspeaker as a heavy police presence observed the standoff.

One observer claimed that ‘people carrying Chinese flags were bussed in and paid to ‘welcome’ Chinese Premier Li Qiang.