Скачать или смотреть Xinhua journalists take photos of Australian journalist to ‘send reports back to China’

The Chinese journalist and photographer caught up in a bizarre encounter at the Prime Minister’s press conference on Friday was photographing Australian journalists to “send reports back to Beijing” according to former Labor MP Michael Danby.

The journalist – reportedly from Xinhua News Agency which is the official state-run press agency in China – approached an SBS cameraperson after she noticed they were filming her.

It has since been reported the journalist was accompanied by a photographer who was seen photographing Australian journalists at the press conference in the prime minister’s courtyard.

Mr Danby said this was one of many recent examples which show China’s growing influence and encroachment in Australia.

"State and federal politicians do not yet understand it is China “who’s changed their attitude to Australia” not Australia behaving aggressively, Mr Danby told Sky News host Andrew Bolt.

“Australia should continue to keep calm with them, accept acceptable investment cleared by the Foreign Investment Review Board, but not take a backward step.

“Because if we do, the crocodile will think it can eat more of us than it has already consumed.”