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Australia must restrict some firms from providing equipment for its 5G mobile communications network because it is such critical infrastructure, the head of the domestic intelligence agency said, helping to explain why China's Huawei was banned.
Australia expanded its national security rules in August to include telecommunication equipment suppliers, an order that prevented Huawei Technologies Co Ltd from participating in the country's forthcoming domestic broadband network.
Australia said the decision was needed as some companies answer to foreign governments, an assertion that soured bilateral relations between Canberra and China.
Protesters rallied in Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, on Saturday calling for an end to the country's controversial South Pacific detention centres which house refugees who try to reach Australia by boat.Particular focus was directed towards the wellbeing of children on the tiny island nation of Nauru, though refugee advocates said all refugees should be out of detention."It's kids off, everyone off and bring them here," Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition told Reuters on Saturday.More than 1,400 people are being held on the Australian-run detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea, some for years.Australia slaps sanctions on Myanmar army top brassThe rally organisers said thousands attended the protests in each city, but local media had smaller estimates. There was no estimate from police.Australia refuses to allow asylum seekers arriving by boat to reach the country. It says the policy deters people smugglers in Asia from plying their trade and saves lives by stopping people sailing in unseaworthy boats from Indonesia to Australia.Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under increased pressure to immediately resettle children on Nauru, after aid agencies and doctors raising concerns of a health crisis.Worsening mental health has left some of the children on Nauru in a "semi-comatose state", unable to eat, drink or talk, says humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which was ejected from Nauru by the island's government.Australia stares at hung parliament as by-election count goes to the wireMorrison’s government is on the verge of losing its majority after a devastating by-election on October 20, and key independents have warned their support hinges on him freeing children on Nauru.On Monday, 11 child migrants were evacuated from Nauru for medical treatment.Australia first introduced offshore processing of refugees between 2001 and 2008 and started it again in 2012. In 2013 it significantly toughened the policy, ruling that even if people were found to be refugees they would never be resettled in Australia. 
Protestors rally in Australian cities to end offshore refugee detention
"5G technology will underpin the communications that Australians rely on every day, from our health systems and the potential applications of remote surgery, to self-driving cars and through to the operation of our power and water supply," Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Signals Directorate, said in rare public comments late on Monday.
"A potential threat anywhere in the network will be a threat to the whole network," he said in a speech that did not mention Huawei or any other firms by name.
A spokesman for Huawei did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company has previously denied it answers to Beijing.
Australia on Tuesday slapped travel and financial sanctions on five top Myanmar military officers, accused of overseeing brutal violence against Rohingya Muslims by units under their command, following similar moves by the European Union and United States.More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh year, according to U.N. agencies, following a counter-insurgency operation launched by Myanmar's military after attacks on security posts by Rohingya militants in August last year.A recent U.N. report accused Myanmar's military of gang rapes and mass killings with "genocidal intent" and called for its commander-in-chief and five generals to be prosecuted under international law.Myanmar has denied most of the allegations in the report, blaming Rohingya "terrorists" for most accounts of atrocities.India’s Rohingya refugees struggle with hatred, fear as first group is expelledHowever Australia, which has previously provided training for Myanmar's army and refrained from imposing sanctions, on Tuesday responded to the U.N. report by targeting four of the men named, and one other senior commander."I have now imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against five Myanmar military officers responsible for human rights violations committed by units under their command," Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.A separate document named the officers; Aung Kyaw Zaw, Aung Aung, Maung Maung Soe, Than Oo and Khin Maung Soe. It said financial dealings with them can now attract penalties of A$1.7 million ($1.2 million) for companies and 10 years jail for individuals.UN says Rohingya children in need of basic educationMyanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay did not pick up a call seeking comment on Tuesday.The United States imposed similar restrictions on top generals in August. Like the United States, Australia omitted Myanmar's military chief, Min Aung Hlaing from the sanctions.The European Union imposed similar restrictions in June. ASEAN urges Myanmar to give inquiry into Rakhine violence full powers
Australia slaps sanctions on Myanmar army top brass
Western intelligence agencies have raised concerns for years that Huawei, the world's largest maker of telecommunications network gear, is beholden to the Chinese government, raising the risk of espionage.
The United States in August restricted access for Huawei and compatriot ZTE Corp to its lucrative market for similar reasons.
Australia previously banned Huawei from providing equipment for its fibre-optic network and moved to block it from laying submarine cables in the Pacific.
Although widely expected, the move added to tensions in bilateral ties as Canberra had previously accused China of meddling in its domestic politics, which soured trade ties.