Liberal MP Aaron Violi has urged the Prime Minister to raise the issue of Cheng Lei’s blocking at a press conference with Chinese officials. Formerly detained journalist Cheng Lei has spoken out after her view of a document signing and press conference with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Canberra was obstructed by Chinese officials on Monday. “We need to get an answer to this because we are in Australia, and the freedom of the press is fundamental to our country,” Mr Violi told Sky News Australia. “Any journalist should be able to attend a press conference with visiting dignitaries.”

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham says there has been a “change” in terms of Beijing’s approach “around the world”. “There is not so much of the aggressive so-called ‘wolf warrior’ diplomacy,” Mr Birmingham said. “That has gone parallel … with the changes to an approach to Australia.”

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham says the Liberals have been going through a “very exhaustive process” in relation to nuclear power. “There have been numerous briefings and opportunities for members to be engaged in terms of discussion and understanding of the options there and that policy will have continued to be worked upon and released at the right time,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia. “The substance here will most importantly be one about ensuring that we have the most credible pathway using the best technologies available to get to net zero by 2050 and to do so in ways that ensure Australia’s industrial underpinnings and electricity markets can operate with reliability and affordability for users.”

Sky News host Cheng Lei discusses the “kerfuffle” involving her being blocked by Chinese officials at a press conference on Monday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been questioned about the moment Cheng Lei was blocked from the view of cameras by Chinese officials at an important media event. “The worry is that my being there is a symbol of some sort,” Ms Lei said. “Maybe they didn’t want that for the domestic audience ... but we don’t want this incident to overshadow the rest of the visit.”

Hawker Britton Managing Director Simon Banks says cost of living is the “number one issue” in Australia. According to the Resolve Strategic poll, Peter Dutton is leading Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on preferred prime minister 36 per cent to 35 per cent. “People ultimately voted for Tony Abbott … so, I think, if anyone on either side of politics assumes that a person is unelectable … I think political strategists move beyond that and focus on the fundamentals,” Mr Banks told Sky News Australia. “The issue for Peter Dutton is, look, the cost of living’s the number one issue. “Australians are doing is tough, and they still haven’t received their tax cuts, the reductions in their energy bills and the cheaper medicines. “Australians are pretty cranky at the moment, and this poll certainly reflects that.”

United States President Joe Biden suffered another embarrassing gaffe at a Democrat campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles over the weekend. Mr Biden appeared to freeze and was led off stage by former United States President Barack Obama. British broadcaster Piers Morgan said on X that the incident was “so embarrassing” and questioned the Democrats decision to have him as presidential nominee. “So embarrassing” he said. “The Democrats can’t let this go on, surely?”

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is in Canberra today and spoke about affirming the “commitment” to viewing the Australia-China relationship as a “comprehensive strategic partnership”. “In less than one year, Prime Minister Albanese and I have met multiple times and exchanged visits to each other's country,” Mr Li said in a media conference on Monday. “This shows that both countries attach great importance to our relationship and that this relationship is on the right track for steady improvement and development. “We affirmed our commitment to defining this relationship as a comprehensive strategic partnership. “We also had a candid exchange of views of some differences and disagreements and agreed to properly manage them in a manner befitting our comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Agenda C Managing Director Parnell Palme McGuiness says the Australian electorate is “really embracing the realism” Opposition leader Peter Dutton is bringing to the debate. According to the Resolve Strategic poll, Peter Dutton is leading Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on preferred prime minister 36 per cent to 35 per cent. “This is, to my mind, the electorate really embracing the realism that Dutton is bringing to debates,” Ms McGuiness told Sky News Australia. “Albanese won’t like to see this at all. “I don’t think it’s going to make any difference in the party room at this stage, but, of course, the Liberal Party will be very pleased to see this. “It shows that the strategy of talking about the cost of living, talking about how energy plays into the cost of living, and keeping a focus on the things that are really hurting households and how we can address them in a realistic way could turn into a winning strategy for the Liberals.”

Hawker Britton Managing Director Simon Banks says Australia’s relationship with China is “really critical” for the economy. Chinese Premier Li Qiang has reached Canberra as he continues his tour of Australia. “This is a complex and difficult relationship, but a really critical one for the Australian economy,” Mr Banks told Sky News Australia. “We should never compromise on our fundamental values when it comes to dealing with China, but we do have really important ties, both commercial and our person-to-person ties between our two countries.”

Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is “all talk, no action” regarding his stance on China. Chinese Premier Li Qiang has reached Canberra as he continues his tour of Australia. This comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations and China’s recent provocation when it dropped flares near an Australian navy helicopter. “We know that the prime minister didn’t call out China on an attack on our naval forces,” Ms Hughes told Sky News Australia. “It was just obscene the delay in which Mr Albanese has been taking when it comes to anything that might upset their view of their handsome boy. “He’s all talk, no action. “We saw yesterday, the focus was on Pandas rather than on the detained Australian writer Yang Hengjun. “What priorities does this prime minister have?”

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman says there is “bipartisan” support for the social media access age should be 16. This comes amid a push for the government to crack down on social media rules, particularly for younger people. “We’ve got to get this done,” Mr Coleman told Sky News Australia. “I think what was really good that came out of last week is we now appear to have bipartisan agreement that the age of access for social media should be 16. “What we’ve seen over the last 20 years of social media is these appalling mental health impacts on kids. “This is a very big issue, and certainly, we’d encourage the government to move forward.”

Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes says the government “talks about easy things” with China. Chinese Premier Li Qiang has reached Canberra as he continues his tour of Australia. This comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations and China’s recent provocation when it dropped flares near an Australian navy helicopter. “It’s great to see that trading partners are having their relationship strengthened,” Mr Thistlethwaite told Sky News Australia. “But I do think it’s too important - these attacks on our defence force and cybersecurity attacks and the detainee of Australian citizens – yet they seem to be just such low-order issues for this government. “They like to talk about the easy things – let’s give you lobster and wine. “It's just obscene that our defence force is such a low-ranking order for this government.”

Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite discusses the government’s talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. “The focus has been on jobs for Australians. “The trade minister is working with the Chinese government to have some of those restrictions that were placed on Australian products under the previous government lifted. “So that you’ve got investment for Australian businesses and jobs for Australians.”

Sky News host Cheng Lei says Australia must “keep making our words clear” with China. Chinese Premier Li Qiang has arrived in Canberra as he continues his tour of Australia. “We have to keep asking; we have to keep making our words clear and make it more troublesome for them on these areas instead of fading away into the sunset,” Ms Lei told Sky News Australia. “But at the same time, we have to be pragmatic about our business interests.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly plan to flee the United States if former president Donald Trump is re-elected, Sky News host Caroline Di Russo says. “A report this week suggesting Harry and Meghan would leave the US if Trump was elected,” she said. “That there is a celebrity favourite.”

A new Resolve poll has Opposition leader Peter Dutton ahead for preferred prime minister. Sky News host Paul Murray says it seems like the “gloss” is gone from the Labor government. “They are now starting to correctly hold the government to account,” he said. “People are now stepping back from saying ‘I’m all in on this government’.”

Prince Louis “never fails to steal the show”, says Sky News host Caroline Di Russo. New footage shows the Prince “having a boogie” on the balcony during the King’s Birthday parade. “He just makes these events so joyful.”

Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers says Prince Harry and Meghan Markle need to realise that if they’re going to have a relationship with the Royal Family, they “can’t go about trashing them”. “They can’t go about making money off their associations with the Royal Family,” Mr Myers told Sky News host Caroline Di Russo. “Hopefully, they’ll see that the Royal Family’s very, very united without them.”

Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers says the Royal Family is “very united” without Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. “They can’t go about making money off their associations with the Royal Family,” Mr Myers told Sky News host Caroline Di Russo. “Hopefully, they’ll see that the Royal Family’s very, very united without them and if they do want the relationship moving forward, then they kind of need to take the sting out of the ... things they say sometimes.”

Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers says there’s been a “big issue” about the allegations of David Beckham’s tax affairs. Reports suggest that the former soccer star could miss out on the knighthood due to his past tax affairs. “A new book is coming out, talking about allegations to do with his tax affairs, and this could land him in a bit of a sticky situation,” Mr Myers told Sky News host Caroline Di Russo.