The new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Australia's incoming prime minister Scott Morrison hosed down speculation of an early election and said on Friday a severe drought across the country's east will be his immediate priority.
"I don't think anyone should be making any plans for an election any time soon," Morrison, the former treasurer, told reporters in Canberra.
Energy minister Josh Frydenberg will be the new treasurer, Morrison announced after winning a Liberal party leadership vote earlier in the day.
Australia has banned Chinese telecoms firm Huawei Technologies Co Ltd from supplying equipment for a 5G mobile network, citing risks of foreign interference and hacking which Beijing dismissed as an "excuse" to tilt the playing field against a Chinese firm.The move, following advice from security agencies, signals a hardening of Australia's stance toward its biggest trading partner as relations have soured over Canberra's allegations of Chinese meddling in Australian politics.It also brings Australia in line with the United States, which has restricted Huawei and compatriot ZTE Corp from its lucrative market for similar reasons.The government said in an emailed statement on Thursday that national security regulations typically applied to telecom carriers would now be extended to equipment suppliers.Firms "who are likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government" would leave the nation's network vulnerable to unauthorised access or interference, and presented a security risk, the statement said.It did not name the Chinese firm specifically, but an Australian government official said the order was aimed at Huawei and precluded its involvement in the network.Huawei's Australian arm, which strenuously denies it is controlled by Beijing, said on Twitter on Thursday that the action was an "extremely disappointing result for consumers".In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China expressed "serious concern", adding that Australia should not "use various excuses to artificially erect barriers"."We urge the Australian government to abandon ideological prejudices and provide a fair competitive environment for Chinese companies' operations in Australia," Lu said at a daily news briefing.Chinese law requires organisations and citizens to support, assist and cooperate with intelligence work, which analysts say can make Huawei's equipment a conduit for espionage."That's what you get when you have the aligned strategy of a Chinese company with the Chinese government," said John Watters, Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Strategy Officer of cybersecurity firm FireEye Inc."(Australia) basically made a decision to spend more money to have more control over their national communication system, because they're up against a competitor that will sacrifice near-term margin for long-term intelligence advantage," he said.Australia had previously banned Huawei, the world's largest maker of telecommunications network gear, from providing equipment for its fibre-optic network and moved to block it from laying submarine cables in the Pacific.But Huawei's exclusion from the mobile network comes at a time of particularly strained relations between Australia and China, which Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had two weeks ago sought to reset with a conciliatory speech."It is ... out of step with this attempt to reset the relationship," said James Leibold, Associate Professor of Politics and Asian Studies at La Trobe University."They're not going to forget Turnbull's earlier strident language anytime soon," he said.Turnbull's tenure as prime minister appeared doomed on Thursday as his ruling party struggled with an internecine leadership battle which saw ministers desert Turnbull and call for a leadership vote. US, China to resume trade talks in Washington amid low expectationsChina reiterates support for Turkey's economyChina complains about Pentagon report, says it is 'pure guesswork'China think tank slammed for "procreation fund" idea
Australia bans China's Huawei from mobile network project, angers Beijing
Australia's consulate in the Indonesian city of Surabaya boosted security measures on Thursday after a social media post urged militants to "kill" its officials there.The nation's Department of Foreign Affairs updated its travel advisory on Thursday, noting that Australian officials in Surabaya would not be attending an event at the Airlangga University in the city "due to heightened security concerns".Two security sources in Indonesia, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the elevated security threat related to a social media posting that urged Indonesians in Surabaya and East Java province to "Kill these Australian officials"."Australia is a member of the international coalition against Islamic State which massacred thousands of Muslims. Revenge the blood of Muslims," said the message, which was reviewed by Reuters and verified by officials as the source of concern.One security source in Indonesia said the posting on the Telegram app, which later spread to other social media platforms, appeared to have originated in the Netherlands."It's not that credible," the source told Reuters in a message. "(There is) no evidence of capability or anyone local responding to this message."Australia opened the consulate in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-biggest city, earlier this month.In May, a series of suicide bombings in Surabaya killed about 30 people, including the attackers. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, the worst in Indonesia for more than a decade.Since then, Indonesian police have detained nearly 250 suspected militants and killed 21 others.Indonesia, which has grappled with violent Islamist militancy for almost two decades, is currently hosting the Asian Games.It has deployed 100,000 military and police to secure the games, which are being held in the capital Jakarta and the city of Palembang on Sumatra island.Neither the threat on social media, nor the Australian advisory, said that the Asian Games was a target.Even so, the advisory says the Australian government continues to "receive information indicating terrorists may be planning attacks in Indonesia."The overall level of Australia's advice was not changed. It warns travellers to "exercise a high degree of caution" in Indonesia.
Australian consulate in Indonesian city boosts security after threat
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop will stand for leadership of the ruling Liberal party, local media reported on Thursday, after several ministers tendered their resignations and left Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull clinging to power.Turnbull narrowly won a leadership vote on Tuesday against the former home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, and on Thursday offered to hold a second vote on Friday if he received a letter signed by the majority of the Liberal party.Treasurer Scott Morrison will also challenge for the top job in any leadership vote, local media reported earlier. 
Australia foreign minister Bishop to run for PM