Shorten says NDIS ‘too important for political games’ after bill blocked – as it happened

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Wong rejects Birmingham's criticism, says US alliance deep and strong'

Asked about her Liberal counterpart Simon Birmingham's criticism of Anthony Albanese's phone call with Julian Assange and his claims that the deal to release Assange has damaged" the US-Australian alliance, Penny Wong says:

That's not not correct and disappointing that Simon would go to the alliance. He would know that our relationship with the United States is deep and strong.

And that is why we were able to advocate in the way we did. And ultimately, the pathway to resolving this, ... had to be through the resolution of the legal process.

Dr Yang remains a priority for our government. We continue to raise his case with the Chinese authorities at all appropriate levels and we will continue to do so. It was obviously raised, as you know, when Premier Li was here.

What I would say is today I am very pleased to see Mr Assange reunited with his family in Australia.